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February 2, 2021

February 2, 2021February 2, 2021 Inspiration 92.3 FM

COVID-19: NCDC detects additional 6 UK variant in Nigeria

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and the African Centre for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID) at Redeemer's University, Ede, have detected additional six B.1.1.7 variant in the country.

Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director General, NCDC, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja, at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, National briefing.

“On January, 30, our partners at ACEGID detected the B.1.1.7 variant in six additional samples – five from Osun and one from Kwara State. This is the variant of concern that first emerged in the UK.

The five in Osun is most likely related to the fact that this is where ACEGID is and where they get a lot of samples from. In total, we have detected the B.1.1.7 variant in seven cases within Nigeria.

“This could imply community transmission of this variant of concern. We are currently scaling up on genomic surveillance, working very closely with ACEGID.

“Specifically, we have begun sequencing positive samples among travelers from the UK and South Africa, who test positive on the seventh day of testing.

“We are developing a protocol to sequence more samples from across states at ACEGID and our sister-agency, NIMR. This is in addition to our capacity at the NCDC National Reference Laboratory,” he explained.

The NCDC boss said that finally there was really no magic bullet with the variants of concern. Currently, the message was still the same.

“Please avoid large gatherings, wash your hands regularly, wear a face mask properly and ensure physical distancing,” he advised.

Ihekweazu noted that the agent have continued to review the global and national situation with regards to the variants of concern, and how it affects the nation’s response.

“We are all aware that with increasing transmission, the virus is adapting to the human population leading to what is known as variants of concern.

“In most countries, it is still not clear if the variants of concern are leading to increased transmission, or if the increase in cases is as a result of poor adherence to public health and social measures.

“An additional layer of response required to really understand the variants of concern, is with genetic sequencing and genomic surveillance.

“We have begun this at the NCDC National Reference Laboratory with our partners at ACEGID at Redeemers University, Ede,” he explained.

Source: NAN.

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February 2, 2021

February 2, 2021February 2, 2021 Inspiration 92.3 FM

FG Declares Kogi High Risk State For Covid-19

Now Kogi state has been classified as “high risk” for COVID-19 because of its failure to acknowledge the existence of the disease, report tests or build isolation centres.

At the weekly briefing in Abuja, the presidential task force on COVID-19, therefore warned Nigerians to be wary of visiting the state. The PTF also said that the Kogi government had failed to report testing, lacked isolation centers, and therefore warned Nigerians to be about visiting the state.

Kogi state Governor, YAHAYA BELLO, has repeatedly described COVID-19 as a “fraud”.

The national incident manager of the PTF, MUKHTAR MUHAMMAD, said Kogi is not testing at all.

In addition to these, we have states where data is not coming forth. If we don't test, your data will not be analysed and if your data is not analysed, we won't know the level of the pandemic in your state.

"Notable among the states are Yobe, Jigawa, Zamfara and Kebbi and of course Kogi that has not been reporting at all.

"States that are not testing are probably at much more higher risk than the states that are currently known as high burdened states.

"A state that is not testing at all is an absolute high risk for Nigerians to visit because, there is no testing facility and even if you fall sick, there is no isolation center and they don’t even acknowledge that the disease exists. So for that reason, we put that state at the top of high risk states."

"As mentioned earlier, the regulation covers places of worship, public transport, banks, workplaces, sports and so on and so forth," he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that notable features of the regulations include, "Restrictions on gatherings, mandatory wearing of face masks in public and above all the powers of prosecution by law enforcement agencies.

"We expect governments, institutions, owners of private buildings and other regulators to enforce these regulations. For example, putting a notice of no mask no entry or no mask no service to enlighten users of their services.

"Pertinent strategies will be adopted and they will include mobile courts on strategic locations such as markets, motor parks and it is expected that every law enforcement agency will monitor complaints or their staff within which they supervise.

"We are providing advisory to the states to develop community engagement strategy and risk communication strategies to sensitise the public on compliance to these regulations and to promote behavioural changes.

"Last week, we started with the FCT, where we had a very fruitful meeting with the Minister and the stakeholders of the FCT.

"We are currently developing the implementation plan and the timeline for which the FCT Taskforce will commence operations all over the FCT," he said.

Source: NAN.

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February 2, 2021February 2, 2021 Inspiration 92.3 FM

Nigeria Records 676 New Covid-19 Infections, 21 Deaths

Nigeria has recorded twenty-one deaths and 676 new coronavirus cases in the latest data released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

This brings the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 131,918 out of which 106, 275 cases have been treated and discharged.

However, the death toll in the country from the virus also increased to 1,607.

Lagos tops the list with 227 cases, followed by Rivers with 73 cases, Niger (69), Plateau (56), FCT (50), Kano (44), Oyo (43), Ogun (27), and Gombe with (18) cases among others.

February 1, 2021

February 1, 2021 IFM Social Media

COVID-19: Presidency Defends Buhari ’s Removal Of Mask In Public

The Presidency, on Monday, said the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), did not violate COVID-19 protocols in Daura, Katsina State over the weekend.

Online photos had shown Buhari discussing with some All Progressives Congress governors at the revalidation of his APC membership in Daura on Saturday without putting on a mask or maintaining social distancing as stipulated by the newly signed Coronavirus Disease Health Protection Regulations (2021).

The Peoples Democratic Party and Nigerians on social media had slammed the President for the contravention of the regulations which made the use of face masks in public places mandatory among other measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19.

The regulations also stipulate a fine or six months imprisonment or both for violators.

Speaking on Monday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said his principal had his mask on during the exercise but only removed it when he spoke to the microphone. This is at variance with health advice by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 that Nigerians should have their mouths covered with masks during speeches to keep off respiratory droplets through which the virus can be transmitted.

But Shehu, who spoke on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme monitored by The PUNCH, said, “People are missing the point. The President had his face mask on through that engagement. He had it off when he was speaking into the microphone. It is just a childish antic by PDP.”

Source: Punch.

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