This post is a follow up on our earlier article titled Is Nigeria ready for the Coronavirus? + Facts about the novel virus.
The present article is borne out of the conviction that it is imperative to document Coronavirus statistics, trends and responses with regard to Nigeria. Every day, new information about Coronavirus infection as well as the government’s response to it appears online. But these are fragmented, so we decided to bring the information in one place so that anyone who wants to know about the Coronavirus infection in Nigeria can find all the data with a single click.
We will continue to update the data as the government’s response continues, so do check here again and again for up-to-date information on Coronavirus in Nigeria.
Background to Coronavirus global pandemic
When the coronavirus initially broke out in Wuhan, China, many of those affected were treated for pneumonia. The cause of this ‘pneumonia‘ had baffled health experts. According to a report released by the World Health Organization (WHO), the cases rose to 44 persons between 31st December 2019 to 3rd January 2020.
On 7th January 2020. the Chinese authorities announced that the cases were being caused by a new type of Coronavirus.
On Tuesday 10 February 2020, the WHO named the novel Coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 or (SARS-CoV-2), while the disease it causes was named Covid-19.
“Having a name matters to prevent the use of other names that can be inaccurate or stigmatizing,” says Director-General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “It also gives us a standard format to use for any future coronavirus outbreaks.”
"Under agreed guidelines between WHO, the @OIEAnimalHealth & @FAO, we had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease"-@DrTedros #COVID19
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) February 11, 2020
The novel Coronavirus quickly engulfed mainland China. However, China being a world economic power, it did not take long for the virus to cross borders. Currently, the virus has been confirmed in 198 countries worldwide.
[bctt tweet=”Did you know that the official name for the novel Coronavirus is Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), while the disease it causes is called Covid-19? #CoronavirusFacts #CoronavirusUpdate #CoronavirusNigeria” username=”Sidomex”]
By 11 March 2020, the World Health Organisation declared the Coronavirus a global pandemic.
We have reported some of the early development and spread of the disease in this article titled Is Nigeria ready for the Coronavirus? + Facts about the novel virus. Check it out for a more detail insight into the initial spread of the disease across the world.
To date (Friday morning, WAT 27 March 2020), China has recorded 81,340 confirmed Coronavirus case. Of these numbers, 3,292 patients lost their lives, 74,588 patients recovered and 3,460 cases remain active, according to the Wordommeter.
While China has largely contained the virus, it is currently ravaging much of western Europe with Italy being the worst hit with 86,498 confirmed cases, 9,134 deaths, 10,950 recovered cases and 66,414 active cases.
Just yesterday, 26 March 2020, the US was reported as the new epicentre of the disease after the confirmed cases surpassed that of China.
This afternoon, the US has reported 94,381 total cases, 1,429 deaths,2,447 recovered and 90,505 active cases, also according to Wordometer.
[bctt tweet=”The US is officially the new epicentre of Coronavirus with confirmed cases surpassing that of China and Italy #CoranavirusFacts #CoronavirusUpdate” username=”Sidomex”]
Overview of Coronavirus in Nigeria
The novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2 has also been recorded in Nigeria. The index case was recorded in an Italian citizen who came into the country on 25th February 2020 from Italy via a Turkish airline. The unnamed Italian citizen was confirmed on the 27th of February 2020. He presented mild symptoms.
Shortly after the confirmation, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the chief executive officer/national coordinator of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) told CNN that Nigeria is capable of handling a Coronavirus outbreak basing his statement on the prompt and efficient manner the country was able to contain the Ebola outbreak of 2014.
His words: “Nigeria is ready. We successfully managed Ebola and we manage outbreaks all the time and are currently managing Lassa fever. We have a strong team that is used to doing this.”
As of Saturday 10:40 pm WAT, 28 March 2020, just about one month after the first diagnosis of Covid-19, the NCDC has confirmed 97 cases of the Coronavirus in Nigeria.
The list of states with confirmed infected persons are:
- Lagos- 59
- FCT- 16
- Oyo- 7
- Ogun- 3
- Edo- 2
- Enugu -2
- Bauchi – 2
- Osun-2
- Benue – 1
- Ekiti- 1
- Rivers-1
Of these cases, one death has been recovered, three discharged and 77 cases are presumably active, although the Lagos Stae commissioner of health, Dr Akin Abayomi stated yesterday evening, 26 march 2020 that six people have recovered from Covid-19 and will be released today (Friday 27 March 2020). However, that has not happened as only one was discharged, which brought the total number of discharged cases are to three by Friday.
Furthermore, the one mortality so far recorded was the death of Suleiman Achimugu, a former MD of Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC).
This means that there are 93 known active cases of Coronavirus in Nigeria as of Saturday night, 28 March 2020.
In the next section, we will now examine responses from the government since the index case was observed on 27 February 2020.
Coronavirus trends and statistics in Nigeria
The table below presents the Coronavirus trends and statistics in Nigeria as announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
[table id=CovidTrendNg /]
Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN ) response to COVID-19 outbreak
The following sections summarise the FGN response to Coronavirus aim at containing and preventing the spread of the disease in the country.
1. Task Force on Coronavirus
On 9th March 2020, the president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, established a Presidential Task Force for the control of the virus in the country.
2. Closure of universities and schools
In the wake of the outbreak, the FGN took a proactive decision to shut down all federal educational institutions. The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, Sunny Echono, confirmed to reporters on 19th March 2020 that tertiary, secondary and primary schools were to be closed by 26 March 2020.
See this article: Breaking! Nigeria records first death of Coronavirus case
3. Suspension of Flights
Initially, Nigeria placed a travel ban on 13 countries with high cases of the virus, the countries were United States, United Kingdom, South Korea, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, China, Spain, Netherlands, Norway, Japan and Iran.
However, after facing criticism over its open borders, the government ordered the cancellation of all international flights on 21st March 2020. The director-general of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu disclosed this in a letter to all airlines in the country. However, it left domestic flights untouched.
4. Work from home
All staff on Grade Level 12 and below have been ordered to work from home from Tuesday 24 March 2020 until further notice, according to a statement by Folasade Yemi-Esan, head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
“All other categories of officers, who will be at work, are strongly advised to follow the measures being put in place by the government to curtail the spread of the pandemic.“
5. Aids from the Chinese business tycoon and Nigeria businessmen
- On 25th March 2020, the Nigerian Airforce air-lifted medical kits that Chinese business tycoon, Jack Ma, had sent from Lagos to Abuja. Abuja, which is the country’s capital is the second worst-hit place in Nigeria after Lagos. It has 10 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
- Billionaire Femi Otedola, tola also announced that he will be donating NGN1 billion to help fight the disease in Nigeria.
- Billionaire Abdul Samad Rabiu, through his company, BUA Group, also donated NGN1 billion to fight Coronavirus in Nigeria. The billionaire has already redeemed the pledge and the money has been deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He also donated an addition NGN 300 million to Sokoto, Ogun and Edo states.
[bctt tweet=”Billionaires who have donated to fight Coronavirus in Nigeria: Jack Ma, @JackMa – Medical equipment; Femi Otedola @realFemiOtedola – NGN1 b; @BUAgroup chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu – NGN1 b #CoronavirusUpdate #CoronavirusNigeria #CoronavirusFacts” username=”Sidomex”]
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on COVID-19
If you are not a health worker, it is likely that you have only known of NCDC in passing. Not anymore, especially for social media active users. The centre is at the forefront of coordinating Nigeria’s response to the global pandemic and has been active in updating Nigerian on the government’s response to Coronavirus.
They are the major arm of the health sector in charge of treating and controlling the spread of the coronavirus in Nigeria. Even before the Italian citizen index case, via Lagos, they had swung into prompt action educating the public on what to do in cases of suspected infection as well as how to avoid catching and spreading the virus.
The NCDC has ensured that all its social media platforms dispense regular updates about the cases. It gives a breakdown of how many people are infected, those that are cured as well as the number of deaths.
In addition to this, it regularly sensitises people on what precautions to take to avoid further spread of COVID-19.
Also, through its media outlets, it announces important news and we will look at some of them below. t has also published a guideline for companies and business to follow and what to do n case of suspected Coronavirus case at the workplace.
?#COVID19Nigeria UPDATE
NCDC has published: GUIDANCE FOR BUSINESSES & EMPLOYERS IN NIGERIA
Read for advice on:
*Reducing the risk of #COVID19 on the premises
*What to do if there is a suspected case at the workplace
& moreDownload here: https://t.co/naOB1riiD8 pic.twitter.com/yCyh48V811
— NCDC (@NCDCgov) March 27, 2020
NCDC advise to travellers to Nigeria
Travellers without symptoms on departure but become unwell in transit are advised to self-report to the Port Health Services on arrival
Travellers from countries with the ongoing local transmission but who show no symptoms on arrival should self-isolate at home for 14 days after arrival
If travellers from countries with ongoing local transmission feel ill with fever, cough or difficulty breathing within 14 days of arrival in Nigeria, please:
- Observe self-isolation immediately by staying indoors and avoiding contact with people
- Call the NCDC 24/7 toll-free line IMMEDIATELY on 080097000010
- Avoid self-medication
The NCDC also launched a WhatsApp line for easy contact.
Our @WhatsApp line is back up!
This new service allows for 2-way conversations on WhatsApp. We‘ll send real-time messages to all Nigerians who opt in to the service, & Nigerians can also engage directly with us
Add NCDC: https://t.co/hozu9wVBD3
1/2 pic.twitter.com/uegByLX3wx
— NCDC (@NCDCgov) March 26, 2020
How states are handling Coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria
1. Lagos State government response
Lagos state government has had a lot to do since most of the confirmed cases have been within its vicinity. As of today, Friday 27th March 2020, 44 cases have been confirmed in Lagos State.
