NIGERIA IS REACHING A CRITICAL LEVEL WHERE HOSPITALS CAN NO LONGER COPE WITH SERIOUS COVID-19 CASES - NCDC
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Monday said Nigeria has gotten to a critical level where hospitals can no longer cope with serious COVID-19 cases.
This was made known by the NCDC Director-General (DG), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, in a statement via his official Twitter handle.
He revealed health workers would be forced to make tough decisions. The DG also called for the protection of susceptible and vulnerable citizens amid surging infections from the virus.
Ihekweazu tweeted; “We are reaching a critical level where our hospital capacity will no longer be able to cope with more serious COVID-19 cases and health workers will be forced to make tough decisions. We need to protect our more vulnerable citizens.
“We all have to take responsibility. This is not for the NCDC, the PTF or government alone. By organising large gatherings indoors, you’re not only putting yourself and guests at risk but also the staff who have limited choice but to serve. By going to clubs, you’re putting your parents at risk.”
There is growing tension across Nigeria as it officially entered the second wave of infections from the COVID-19 pandemic in December.
The number of COVID-19 infections detected in the country in the past three weeks indicates that a second wave of the outbreak has begun, according to Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.
Read Also: DSS WARNS AGAINST PLANS TO INCITE RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY
As of December 23, 2020, the NCDC reports that Nigeria had recorded 80,922 COVID-19 infections and 1,236 deaths. The toll has taken a surge with over 20,000 infections recorded in the last three weeks.
As of January 12, 2021, the number of infections has risen to 101,331 and the death toll has increased to 1,361.
This means 25 COVID-19 related deaths and 20,409 more infections have been recorded in the space of 20 days.
On November 9, Pfizer said it's COVID-19 vaccine was 90% effective against the COVID-19 disease.
On January 3, the PTF announced that Nigeria would receive its first consignment of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the end of January.
The United Kingdom (UK), United States (US), and several other countries have received their first batch of the jab amid growing concerns of a new COVID-19 viral strain.
Read Also: FG SETS TO REVIEW JANUARY 18 PROPOSED RESUMPTION DATE
Comments