It was a night of broken records as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported 196 new coronavirus cases in the country (29th April). This means the nation gets a new highest daily record 24 short hours after it set the previous one.
With this latest figure, the total number of confirmed cases is now 1,728 as Nigeria looks set to hit the 2,000 mark less than a week after crossing 1,000.
Lagos, while maintaining its spot as the state with the highest number of daily cases smashed its own daily tally with 87 new cases. The previous highest of 80 cases was recorded on April 24 and 28. With a total of 931 confirmed cases in Lagos, the state comes dangerously close to hitting the 1,000 mark and become the first state to do so.
Lagos now has 53.8% of the total confirmed cases in the country.
After witnessing a few days of decline, Abuja finally crossed double digits for the first time in several days with 10 new cases. This leaves the FCT with a total of 174 cases and sitting second on the log.
After being absent for a while due to zero testing, Kano has recorded two consecutive days with more than 20 cases as the northwestern state records 24 new cases, well below 38 recorded the day before. This leaves Kano in the third spot with 139 total cases.
Debutant
Yobe becomes the latest state to join the coronavirus log in Nigeria, after debuting with its index case. This means all northeastern states are formally on the log. As it stands, 34 states plus the FCT have entered the Covid-19 log.
Only two states are without a single Covid-19 case and they are Kogi and Cross River. It is unclear how much testing is going on in those stated though. This makes it difficult to determine if indeed there are no cases or whether there are no cases because tests aren’t carried out.
The northeastern question
No other region is witnessing a steady rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the country than the northeastern region. In this latest update, 4 of the 12 states recorded are from the region. This makes it the region with the most representation in the last two days.
Gombe had 18 new cases, Borno has 6 while both Yobe and Adamawa had one appease. While the region’s total of 163 doesn’t look like much, the increase is too steady to not be considered.
Recoveries, deaths and active cases
After recording zero new recoveries for two days in a row, the NCDC finally reports 52 new recoveries within the last 24 hours. This brings the total number of discharged cases to 307, up from 255.
This remarkable improvement means Nigeria now has a recovery rate of 17.7%, up from 16.6% the day before. But it isn’t anywhere near the global recovery rate of 31%. But then it is probably still early days for Nigeria yet.
7 new deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of Covid-19 deaths in the country to 51. This means Nigeria’s death ratio is currently 2.9%, down from 2.8% the day before. This is better than 7% global death ratio.
Total number of active cases currently stands at 1,370. Thanks to the high number of recoveries, total active cases fell from 80% to 79%. Not a very significant reduction but we would have to take it. Global active cases ratio stands at 61.8%
Covid-19 Nigeria
As part of measures to ease life back to something close to normalcy, the Federal government has announced that banks would be allowed to resume operation from Monday, May 4th. Their daily activities must not begin earlier than 8am and must not extend beyond 2pm.
Similarly, the Lagos state government has announced plans to reopen markets, especially foodstuff markets. It also intends to allow eateries to operate as long as they don’t allow people to eat in. Their business also mustn’t extend beyond 3pm everyday.
Following the 2 week lockdown imposed on Kano, citizens of the state reportedly took to the streets to protest the restriction and its possible effect on their lives.
Technext Newsletter
Get the best of Africa’s daily tech to your inbox – first thing every morning.
Join the community now!
