Category: CORONAVIRUS

THERE is disquiet within top officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over the rising cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

FCTA has, therefore, threatened to implement the national vaccination mandate due to non-compliance of residents with the COVID-19 protocols despite the hike in cases.

Secretary of FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS) Dr. Abubakar Tafida stated these while updating reporters on the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in FCT.

He said emphasis is still on the non-pharmaceutical strategies: such as minimising physical contact, keeping social distances, wearing facemasks and hand washing to avoid the escalation of the pandemic.

The FCTA Health Secretary noted that the residents and other stakeholders in the nation’s capital city must take precautions, by continuing to be aware of established and simple preventive measures.

Tafida added that about three weeks ago, the FCTA concluded that the territory is in the fourth wave, following a rising number of cases.

He added that as of Sunday December 19, the FCT had a total of 84 cases, which brought cumulative cases so far confirmed in the territory since the first wave to about 24,861.

“Now, we have 1,246 active cases. We noted an additional 13 cases in the past 24 hours. In terms of people or cases  on admission, we have a total of 105; 92 of this number are in the Dome, 13 at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, this signifies the severity of the conditions. So, preparedness is key to effectively handling the pandemic.

“So, you can see that within the span of three weeks, we are having almost a thousand plus. So, if we continue to neglect these preventive measures, the situation might become very alarming and difficult to handle.

“We have to implement the national vaccination mandate, where people will be prevented from going into public spaces, offices or other strategic places, if you do not present your evidence of vaccination.

“In our last meeting, we looked at the current situation, the increasing number of cases, what we have been doing, and we have developed strategies, which are in consonance with scientific and other data available to us.”

Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has inaugurated a mass vaccination exercise against COVID-19 pandemic as part of measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Abba Anwar, who stated this yesterday in a statement in Kano, quoted Ganduje as saying: “We took all the necessary measures that are required to tame COVID-19 in the state.

“As we are graduating from vaccination of targetted groups and population, we now open a new chapter, which is called mass vaccination.”

He lauded businessmen – Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Alhaji Abdussamad Isyaka Rabi’u, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, health workers and security agencies for their efforts in managing the pandemic and enforcing protocols.

The governor also inaugurated access to care under Basic Health Care Provision Fund in the state.

“Our aim is to have good access to healthcare service delivery across the 44 local governments and functional primary healthcare for our health facilities,” he said.

He said this would enable the government to ensure minimum requirements of personnel, consumables, physical maintenance among others at the health facilities.

MEDICAL expert and Permanent Secretary, Katsina State Ministry of Health, Dr. Kabir Mustapha, has advocated improved community health awareness, enhanced agency cooperation and collaboration to successfully curb COVID-19 pandemic.

Mustapha, who recovered from a recent COVID-19 attack, told The Nation during an interview in his office that earlier protocols designed to tackle the pandemic, including lockdown measures and several  other policies by governments had failed due to the fact that the disease always find it easy to sidetrack those preventive measures

He said: “Managing any disease of public health importance involves the application of specific protocols in guiding against the spread of the particular causative agent for epidemics.

“Being actively involved in the implementation of measures to control the spread of COVID-19 in my state, key success to curbing the adversity of the epidemic even at global perspective lies in  greater awareness creation among communities, cooperation and collaboration between agencies as well as individual countries.’’

The Permanent secretary decried the degree of doubts in the minds of most people on the existence of COVID-19, even in advanced and most educated countries.

He recalled his earlier COVID-19 attack, which he said occurred while he was attending a conference in Kano in March 2020.

He said: “I suffered an unusual upper respiratory tract infection, characterised by painful sore throat, fever, headache, catarrh, sneezing and running nose and persistent dry cough.

“As at the time, testing for COVID-19 was not available during the first wave, I received treatment with course of analgesic, antihistamines and cough syrup and within few days got cured.’’

Foreigners coming into the country through Lagos State must adhere to the COVID-19 travel protocols or face possible deportation, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu warned yesterday.

The governor also reiterated that all-inbound passengers for international flights must perform a Day 2 test within 48 hours of arrival into the country, as well as an additional Day 7 PCR test for all partially or unvaccinated inbound passengers.

“These tests are mandatory to assist the state monitor the inflow of positive passengers, which we have identified as a veritable source of our waves and community spread,” the governor said.

Sanwo-Olu, in a statement giving updates about the Coronavirus pandemic, said the “state would begin prosecuting those who refuse to submit themselves for these mandatory tests by blacklisting their passports for one year”.

The statement added: “This would be carried out in partnership with the Presidential Steering Committee. In addition, all foreigners that flout the rules would be subject to possible deportation. Therefore, I implore all intending inbound passengers to perform their required tests at any of the private laboratories within the Lagos State Private Laboratory Consortium as and at when due.

“It is also pertinent to mention that we have received very disturbing information about intending outbound passengers procuring fake COVID-19 test results and/or vaccination cards. This is a very worrisome trend for us to note, and we are currently working with the NCDC, DSS and police to investigate and bring to book the criminal gangs involved in this reprehensible activity.

“We implore everyone to desist from patronising these gangs, as anyone found with a fake COVID-19 test result and/or vaccination card will be liable to prosecution and very stiff penalties.

“Most of the continents of the world – including Africa – are now experiencing a fourth wave of the pandemic. Unfortunately, Lagos State is not left out as we are also experiencing the beginnings of a fourth wave with current positivity rate at six per cent. This is against the positivity rates of 0.1 per cent as at the middle of November 2021.

“Based on our analysis, the fourth wave was brought by the non-adherence to the laid down protocols to mitigate this pandemic. I, once again, plead with everyone to get vaccinated and join hands with the government in managing this wave of the pandemic in this festive season by following the guidelines we have set, especially regarding use of face masks, public gatherings and travelling in and out of the state.”

The government also adopted current guidelines on travel protocols as announced by the Presidential Steering Committee, including a COVID-19 PCR test to be done within 48hrs before departure; post-arrival day 2 COVID-19 PCR test; partially and unvaccinated individuals to self-isolate for seven days following arrival into the country and a day 7 release PCR test; all outbound passengers to demonstrate evidence of full vaccination against COVID-19, and a negative PCR test result within 48 hours from the time to boarding a flight out of Nigeria.”

The Anambra State government has inaugurated the third phase of COVID-19 mass vaccination to protect residents against the pandemic.

Executive Secretary, State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Chioma Ezenyimulu, during the flag-off ceremony in Awka, said the 3rd Phase of the vaccination would run from yesterday to January 6, 2022.

Ezenyimulu said the speedy discovery of COVID-19 vaccines and the subsequent mass vaccination campaigns had drastically reduced morbidity and mortality of the disease.

“We are happy that Nigeria has embraced the hope offered by the vaccines. The vaccines have led to a drastic decline of cases worldwide.

“Anambra State commenced COVID-19 vaccination on March 17, using AstraZeneca vaccines and later, Moderna vaccines.

“Since then, we have vaccinated 113,218 residents in the first and second phases of the vaccination campaign.

“To ensure that every ward is reached with this third phase vaccination, 330 Primary Health Centres, 50 accredited private hospitals and 16 special centres will conduct COVID-19 vaccination in the state.

mobilisation and ultra-cold chain equipment for proper storage of the vaccines.

She, however, urged the state government to intervene in the employment of more health workers to address the challenge of shortage of staff.

Also speaking, Dr. Chukwumuanya Igboekwu, World Health Organisation, Coordinator in Anambra, said that achieving high population immunity required vaccinating 70 per cent of the world population.

“Countries were given target of vaccinating 10 per cent of her population by the end of September 2021, 40 per cent by the end of December and 70 per cent by the end of June 2022.

“Unfortunately, Nigeria has barely vaccinated three per cent of her population as at Dec. 2, 2021.

“Note that 28 countries including Nigeria have confirmed another type of COVID-19 virus called Omicron, which WHO has categorised as variant of concern, and 4th wave is being anticipated.

“| want to encourage everyone to get vaccinated, and continue to adhere with all the COVID-19 safety measures,” he said.

THE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a notification to airlines stating that they will pay a penalty of $3,500 per passenger if they flout the newly revised COVID-19 provisional quarantine protocols.

Besides, the regulator said extreme violation by any carrier would lead to an outright ban.

An All Operators Letter (AOL) issued on December 3, to accountable managers and signed by the NCAA Director-General, Captain Musa Nuhu, said protocols for international flight operations and quarantine protocols for travellers arriving Nigeria issued on July 1, still subsists.

The NCAA directed airlines to airlift passengers travelling to Nigeria, who are in possession of a paid permit to travel with a QR Code and a result of a negative COVID-19 test done not later than 48 hours from time of boarding.

The NCAA said violation of these travel directives will cost the airline $3,500 for any individual passenger or earn them a ban from flying into Nigeria.

“Non-compliance to these pre-boarding requirements by any airline will attract a penalty of $3,500 per passenger. Airlines who consistently fail to comply with these requirements may be banned from coming to Nigeria.”