Ekiti gov tests positive of COVID-19

OVER 570 new coronavirus cases have taken Nigeria’s nationwide tally close to 38,000.

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced this development today.

According to NCDC, four fatalities were recorded in the 576 new COVID-19 cases across Nigeria over the past 24 hours.

The overall case count now stands at 37,801, including 15,677 recoveries and 805 deaths, according to the NCDC update.

The hardest-hit region in Nigeria is the commercial capital Lagos, where 13,626 infections and 177 deaths have been reported so far.

It is followed by the Federal Capital Territory, which includes the capital Abuja, with 3,211 cases and 39 deaths, and the southwestern Oyo state with 2,219 cases and 20 fatalities.

Despite having the third highest number of cases in Africa after Egypt and South Africa, Nigeria eased virus restrictions on June 30 by permitting inter-state travel and resumed domestic flights a week later.

The total number of infections across Africa is now near 750,000, with more than 15,700 deaths and almost 410,000 recoveries.

A release by Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention gave the figure on its Twitter.

Across the world, COVID-19 has claimed nearly 617,000 lives in 188 countries and regions since emerging in China last December.

Almost 15 million cases have been reported worldwide, with the US, Brazil, India, and Russia currently the worst-hit countries, according to figures compiled by the US’ Johns Hopkins University.

The data shows more than half of all patients worldwide – some 8.48 million – have recovered so far.

Similarly, Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has tested positive for Covid-19.

Fayemi had been previously tested twice with the results coming out negative.

However, the governor has delegated his deputy, Bisi Egbeyemi, to act in his absence, as he is in self-isolation.

According to Fayemi, he discovered his infection yesterday.

“I took my third Covid-19 test yesterday and it came back positive. I am generally okay and I’m already self isolating at home and receiving the best of care from my medical team. I’m delegating critical tasks to my Deputy, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, but will continue routine duty from home. JKF,” he tweeted.

It will be recalled that Fayemi, who is also Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) is the eighth governor to test positive for COVID-19 in the country.

But The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control yesterday said it had set up five new COVID – 19 testing laboratories in the country.

The new centres will be located at Edo Specialist Hospital, Benin; ATBU Teaching Hospital, Bauchi; Rivers Indorama Company Molecular Lab; State Specialist Hospital, Amachara, Abia; and University of Abuja, Gwagwalada GX Lab.

The NCDC in a statement said the development brought the total number of laboratories in its Molecular Laboratory Network to 58.

At the moment, the country has 46 PCR diagnostic machines and 12 GeneXpert laboratori