By GRACE AUDU, Abuja –
For the first time since the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Nigeria almost 14 months ago, the nation recorded zero death on Saturday, making it the 12th consecutive day no fatality has been reported from the virus.
The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), which made this known in its daily updates via its official Twitter handle on Saturday, said however, that there were 51 new cases of COVID-19 infections.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the COVID-19 pandemic has caused and over 2,000 deaths in Nigeria and 3 million deaths globally since it began.
The NCDC also said that the new cases were registered in five states across Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with Yobe state taking the lead with 19 cases, followed by Lagos -17, Rivers -8, FCT -4, Akwa Ibom -2 and Bayelsa -1.
The health agency further disclosed that 44 people had recovered from the virus and discharged from isolation centers across the country, adding that till date, 164,684 cases had been confirmed, 154,687 discharged and 2,061 deaths recorded in 36 states and the FCT.
While putting Nigeria’s active cases at about 9000 as at April 24, the NCDC said it had conducted 1,870,915 COVID-19 tests since the beginning of COVID-19 on Feb. 27, 2020.
It noted that a multi-sectoral National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, had continued to coordinate the national response activities in the country.
The NCDC advised Nigerians to disinfect surfaces at homes, shops, churches, mosques and offices regularly to prevent the spread of the virus in their communities.
“TakeResponsibility to protect yourself, loved ones, customers, employees and society from infections such as COVID-19,” it said.
(With additional report by NAN)