With 35 new cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) reported on Thursday, Nigeria now has 442 confirmed cases of the deadly disease.
On Thursday, 19 new cases were reported in Lagos State, nine in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), five in Kano State and two in Oyo State.
“As at 10.20pm of April 16, there are 442 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Nigeria.
“So far, 152 patients have been discharged, while 13 deaths have been recorded,” said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The breakdown below shows that Coronavirus has spread to 19 states and the FCT in Nigeria.
Lagos – 251
FCT – 67
Kano – 21
Osun – 20
Edo – 15
Oyo – 13
Ogun – 9
Katsina – 7
Bauchi – 6
Kaduna – 6
Akwa Ibom – 6
Kwara – 4
Delta – 4
Ondo – 3
Enugu – 2
Ekiti – 2
Rivers – 2
Niger – 2
Benue – 1
Anambra – 1
There’s a palpable fear that the virus may spread to other states of the federation in the coming days.
Meanwhile, the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State Government has said COVID-19 tests in all approved testing centres in the state are carried out free of charge.
This was disclosed on Thursday by Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, while reacting to an online report which alleged that patients pay N30,000 for COVID19 test at the NCDC approved centres in Lagos.
He explained that no designated testing centre in the state is allowed to collect money for the COVID-19 tests.
“I want to state unequivocally that there is no designated COVID-19 testing centre in Lagos that collects or is allowed to collect money for the test. COVID-19 tests at the designated testing centres are free of charge,” Abayomi affirmed.
The commissioner added that Lagos State Ministry of Health is not aware of any health worker at any of the testing centres that collects money for the COVID-19 test, urging residents to be wary of misleading reports targeted at discrediting frontline health workers who are committed to ensuring that COVID-19 is contained.
“I want to assure the public that activities at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba and other approved centres for COVID19 screening are effectively monitored in accordance with the strict guidelines of Lagos State COVID-19 Response under which no fees are collected for the tests.
“Furthermore, we urge Lagos State residents to call 08000CORONA to report any health worker and or anyone who demands and or requests fees to conduct COVID-19 tests at any of our designated testing centres,” Abayomi stated.
He warned that any health worker or personnel discovered to have engaged in any illegal activities would be sanctioned in line with extant provisions of the law and rules guiding their duties.
“Please be assured that Lagos State Government will discipline any health worker or personnel who indulge in such illegal activities,” the commissioner assured.
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