Africa-Press – Nigeria. In view of the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir festivities, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a fresh public health advisory.
It hinged the latest warning on the increasing number of infections to COVID-19 both in Nigeria and globally.
Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, Director General, NCDC in a statement forwarded to our correspondent, noted that the public health advisory was issued following the need for religious organisations, community leaders and Nigerians to guard against infections.
“This is based on the prevailing risk from the virus and the need for religious organisations, community leaders, and Nigerians, in general, to take necessary precautions ahead of the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebrations,” the statement added.
According to the latest situation report from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the number of weekly COVID-19 cases has increased globally for the third consecutive week.
The statement further reads, “Similarly, our national surveillance system has detected a gradual increase in the daily COVID-19 cases recorded in the country.
“Although confirmed cases increased from 267 to 445 between weeks 21 to 24, hospitalisation and fatalities have remained low suggesting these are mostly mild to moderate cases or we are in the lag phase before we see the accompanying increase in severe disease and hospitalisation.
“Since Nigeria’s first case was detected on 27th February 2020, we have had 256,695 confirmed cases with 3,144 deaths across 36 states and the FCT.”
Genomic surveillance confirms Omicron and its various offspring (sub lineages) remain the dominant circulating variant of concern associated with the spread of the disease in the country.
However, NCDC said the recent increase in cases may be in part or whole due to increased testing over the last few weeks and increased circulation of Omicron sub-lineages (BA.4 and BA.5 as seen elsewhere).
Others are increases in seasonal illness with cold and cough symptoms as well as poor adherence to preventive measures such as the use of masks.
Over the last two years, Nigeria, just like the rest of the world has battled a pandemic that led to the hospitalisation and deaths of thousands and beyond health, also disrupted livelihoods and economies.
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