The Federal Government is set to release N36bn to states as part of measures to curb the rising COVID-19 cases and prevent the third wave of the virus.

The Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, JOSEPH NGBEA, who disclosed this in an interview stated that the Federal Government promised to release the fund before the end of this month.

NGBEA, also indicated that state commissioners of health would meet next week with the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 and the Federal Ministry of Health officials.

It was gathered that the meeting, would among others, map out ways to shore up testing, which according to a report has dropped by 29 per in the last one month.

This came to the fore as the country recorded 404 cases on Tuesday, the highest in the last one month.

No fewer than 1,276 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the country between May 27 and June 27.