Delta Variant: Government expresses concern over rising cases in Lagos, FCT, Rivers, Kano, others

*Boss Mustapha, Chairman of Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, while giving an update on the Coronavirus cases, urges Nigerians to get vaccinated as the situation is worrisome, indicating that the country is not yet out of the woods 

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Following the reported surge in cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic per day in Nigeria, the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 has confirmed and expressed concern that the Delta variant is now present in Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Rivers, Kano, Plateau states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

ConsumerConnect reports the PSC said with the country’s recording as many as 500 cases of virus infection daily, Nigeria’s test positivity ratio has also increased by about six percent.

Mr. Boss Mustapha, Chairman of the Committee on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), disclosed this development in an update on the Coronavirus during a media briefing August 1, 2021, in Abuja, FCT.

The PSC Chairman noted that the Delta variant accounts for the rising cases of COVID-19 in the listed states, and across Nigeria, with Lagos alone accounting for over 50 percent of the number of cases.

Mustapha stated the situation is worrisome and shows that the country is not out of the woods yet.

“The world has added about four million cases, and under 100,000 deaths in the last one week.

“All countries in the West African region are beginning to see the third Wave while Nigeria is recording about 500 cases daily in the last seven days.

“Our test positivity ratio has increased to about six percent. This is worrisome and shows that we are not out of the woods yet,” he said.

Mustapha also stated: “It is no more news that the Delta variant has made its way into Nigeria.

“The PSC is particularly concerned about the situation in Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Rivers, Ekiti and Plateau states as this variant has made way into these states and accounts for the rising cases in these states and across the nation.

“Lagos alone accounts for over 50 percent of the number of cases. This development calls for great caution because the virus is very virulent and raging in so many other countries.

“We must, therefore, keep observing the NPIs and also ensure that we get vaccinated. Vaccination prevents severe cases and reduces hospitalisation and deaths but does not eliminate contacting it, hence the need to religiously observe the NPIs.

“We need to test more and detect early enough so that people who have contacted this virus can be treated early.”

According to SGF, Nigeria currently has 143 molecular laboratories (54 private and 89 public) for testing, urging Nigerians to make themselves available for regular testing.

“The Controller-General of Immigration will be directed to lift the suspension and to also activate the new sanctions.

“Travellers who did not go for their Day-7 test will have restrictions placed on their international passports for six months while those who evaded quarantine will similarly have restrictions on their international passports for one year,” said he.

Lagos Governor raises alarm over COVID-19 third wave, warns of sanctions

In view of the rising cases of the Coronavirus as the state alone accounts for over 50 percent of the latest cases, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu Lagos State has raised an alarm over the increasing figure, and warned foreigners who violate guidelines that they risk deportation.

Sanwo-Olu, who expressed his concern at media briefing Tuesday, August 2, 2021, in Lagos, and called on residents to adhere strictly to the guidelines put in place to curb the spread of the virus in the state.

Lagos State is regarded as the epicenter of the pandemic in Nigeria.

The state has witnessed a rise in positivity rate, from 1.1 percent at the start of July to seven percent at the month end, according to report.

The governor said: “As of August 1, 2021, the positivity rate in Lagos is 8.9 percent. This is an eight-fold increase over the recorded figure a month ago, and it should rightly alarm all of us.

“This has resulted in 4,300 confirmed cases in July alone and 352 admissions into our isolation facilities.”

Sanwo-Olu noted that he believes everyone should be concerned about the rising cases, and urged Lagosians to approach the situation “with a firm resolve and determination to reverse the trend.

“We have done it before and we can do it again,” he said.

The governor admitted that Lagos State is already in the third wave of the pandemic, but he believes previous experiences battling the disease will help the state prevail over it again.

As a major obstacle to the race to end the pandemic is compliance with guidelines and protocols, the Lagos State Governor is taking a tough position when it comes to violations this time around.

Therefore, he has warned returning passengers from red-listed countries, including India, South Africa, Brazil, and Turkey, to observe protocols including mandatory isolation or risk sanctions.

Sanwo-Olu said that anyone caught breaching the isolation protocols in Lagos would be subjected to a host of sanctions and penalties, including fines and possible prosecution under the public health laws.

According to him, Lagos is preparing a list of absconders that would be sent to the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 and the Lagos State Ministry of Justice for appropriate action.

The governor said that any defaulting foreigners risk revocation of their permanent residency and deportation, whereas erring Nigerians will be duly prosecuted.

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