Category: Update on coronavirus

World Health Organisation (WHO), yesterday, said the Omicron variant was reaching more African nations, as weekly COVID-19 cases on the continent surged by 93 per cent. However, there are signs of hope, as preliminary data indicate that hospitalisations across South Africa remain low. The WHO African Region, at a virtual press conference on vaccine rollout and impact of the new variant on the pandemic, facilitated by APO Group, said the continent recorded more than 107,000 infections in the week ended December 5, up from around 55,000. Five countries accounted for…

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The Saudi Arabia authority yesterday, suspended all flight operations coming from Nigeria into the kingdom over the outbreak of Omicron variant of COVID-19. An official statement issued by Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) directed to all airports and private aviation operators in the Kingdom ordered suspension of all flight coming “directly or indirectly” from Nigeria. Incidentally, Saudi came with the restriction order barely seven days after the country recorded her index case of Omicron from a passenger returning from North Africa into the country. The statement said: “The…

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The association of Lagos State Government Employed, Medical Guild, on Monday, allayed fears over the current spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, saying that, available data has so far shown that the new variant was not as deadly as previous variants. Speaking during the association’s 2021 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference which will run from 5th to 10th of December, 2021, the Chairman of Medical Guild, Dr. Oluwajimi Sodipo said virus mutation was not new but the challenge most time rests on whether the protective measure adopted earlier against…

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The decision by the British government to put Nigeria on the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 pandemic red list has been described as unjust, unfair, punitive and discriminatory by the Federal government of Nigeria. Government’s position came on a day President of African Development Bank, AfDB, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said the travel ban on some African countries over Omicron, was also “very unfair, non-scientific and discriminatory.” This is even as former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Professor Kingsley Moghalu, advised African countries, including Nigeria and South…

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Wednesday morning confirmed the first case of the Omicron variant in the country. This was contained in a press release issued by the centre and signed by the Director-General, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa. The Omicron variant, a new strain of the coronavirus disease, was reported by South Africa and first detected in Botswana. Following the discovery, countries such as the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Israel among others placed travel bans on southern African countries. Similarly, the government of Canada had also stated that it…

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The first cases of the new Omicron strain of COVID-19 has been detected in Canada in two people who had travelled recently to Nigeria. The government of Ontario in Canada confirmed that the two cases are in the capital, Ottawa. Federal and Ontario provincial officials said both patients are in isolation while public health authorities trace their possible contacts. “I was informed today by the Public Health Agency of Canada that testing and monitoring of COVID-19 cases has confirmed two cases of the Omicron variant of concern in Ontario,” Health…

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South African scientists have detected a new COVID-19 variant in small numbers, which is worse than the Delta variant. They blame it for a surge in infection numbers. Daily infections shot to more than 1,200 cases on Wednesday, from around 100 earlier this month, raising fears of a fourth wave of the pandemic. The variant – called B.1.1.529 – has a “very unusual constellation” of mutations, which are concerning because they could help it evade the body’s immune response and make it more transmissible, scientists said. Early signs from diagnostic…

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said that Nigeria recorded 65 additional cases of COVID-19 infections and eight COVID-19 related deaths on Wednesday. The NCDC made the disclosure in its daily COVID-19 report on Thursday morning. The 65 additional cases reported on Wednesday indicate an increase from the 64 cases reported in the country the previous day. The public health agency noted that with the new fatalities recorded, the death toll from the virus now stood at 2,914. It also revealed that the total infection from the pandemic currently…

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control says Nigeria’s COVID-19 infections continues to rise as 90 additional cases were registered with two deaths on Monday. The NCDC disclosed this in its daily COVID-19 report on Tuesday morning. The 90 additional cases reported on Monday indicate an increase from the 74 cases reported in the country the previous day. The public health agency noted that with the new fatalities recorded, the death toll from the virus in the country now stood at 2,898. The agency also revealed that the total infection from…

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has reported 120 additional infections of COVID-19 from 10 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with three related deaths as of Oct. 29, 2021. The NCDC disclosed this in its daily COVID-19 report on Saturday morning. The 120 additional cases reported on Friday, indicate a decrease from the 182 cases reported the previous day. The Public Health Agency stated that the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country has reached 211,798 with 202,962 cases discharged and…

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