COVID 19: Relief, Number Of Confirmed Cases Drops

By Fola James

For the first time since the corona virus index case was discovered in Nigeria, the number of positive cases has decreased according to the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.

According to a report on NCDC website, cases in Nigeria in the last 24 hours have dropped to five newly reported incidents.

As at April 12, there are 323 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Nigeria: 85 have been discharged with 10 deaths.

Compared to the past days when over 10 cases were recorded repeatedly, only  five have been confirmed on Easter Sunday, NCDC said.

States where new cases have been discovered include, Lagos and Kwara states with two cases each while Katsina recorded one more incidence.

There are 19 states with confirmed cases in the country.

The first COVID 19 case was recorded in March after an Italian expatriate working with Larfarge, a cement company in Ogun state was discovered positive of the deadly disease.

The cases of Nigerians infected by the disease have risen astronomically since then to over 300 cases as at Monday, according to figures from the Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu-led NCDC.

But the agency responsible for containing the pandemic said on Sunday that the number of cases has now dropped a welcome development to many Nigerians, particularly those who fear the virus could spiral out of control.

Meanwhile, health experts told the magazine that containing the virus will depend largely on how far Nigerians are able to comply with preventive methods such as stay-at-home, regular hand washing, social distancing and the use of face mask when necessary.

Already, the federal government has disclosed that the stay-at-home order will remain in place in Lagos, Ogun and Federal Capital Territory, FCT until further notice.