Covid-19: FG fears increase as schools reopen 1
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Covid-19: FG fears increase as schools reopen

The Federal Government of Nigeria on Tuesday raised fears about a possible surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country, unless there would be a scale-up surveillance and review of its response plan to integrate new ways to deal with the virus.

It, however, said the number of active cases had continued to drop as it revised the discharge criteria in line with new knowledge of the disease.

This is according to the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, who said, “As business and schools begin to open and as travels begin to pick up, we fear that we may have a surge in the number of cases unless we scale up surveillance and review our response plan to integrate new ways to deal with the disease.”

Ehanire also appealed to state governments “to continue to ensure that we step up case findings, sample collection and testing.

“A total of 58,460 confirmed cases have been recorded as of today, September 29, 2020 with 49,895 cases treated and discharged. This result is from a total of 509,555 persons tested for COVID-19.

“Sadly, the number of deaths as a result of the disease has since crossed the 1,100 mark with 1,111 deaths recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory..”

Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force, Boss Mustapha, has disclosed that Nigeria would be among the beneficiaries as the World Health Organisation prepares to roll out 120 million effective rapid test tools capable of providing reliable results in 30 minutes rather than in hours.

“Developments with testing around the world have been very encouraging as technology improves. We were pleased to receive the news of the partnership driven by the WHO to roll out 120 million effective rapid test tools capable of providing reliable results in 30 minutes rather than hours.

“It will help to reach distant communities where laboratories are not located and will help in cutting down the response time that medical personnel need to commence treatment,” Mustapha said.

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