The number of new Covid-19 cases reported in Nigeria for the week is still below the 300-cases benchmark. 246 new cases were reported within the last 7 days, which is almost the same as the 250 that was recorded in the previous week. This brings the total number of active cases across all states to 7,499. 70 persons recovered from the infection.
Here are the other interesting stories that unfolded.
Nigerian arrested in India for covid-19 scam
41-year old Chibuikem Daniel has been arrested in India by the police authorities for scamming people by collecting money for Remdesivir vaccine and failing to deliver it.
According to the Times of India, Daniel was reported to the police after he had received advance payment for three doses of the Remdesivir injection. The payment was made by someone whose acquaintance was suffering from Covid-19 after he had been unable to procure it through other means.
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For each of the doses, Daniel quoted the price of Rs 25,000 (N141,440.58) and asked for Rs 10,000 (N56, 576) in advance. He got the money but did not provide the vaccine. He was arrested in South Delhi after the police analysed call details between him and the complainant and got tipped about his activities.
He is also being accused of perpetrating other crimes with another accomplice who is still at large. 2 laptops, eight android phones, 25 keypad mobile phones, 18 mobile SIM cards, seven ATM cards, two pen drives and Rs 50,500 cash (N285,709.97) were recovered from him.
NYSC members will not be forced to take vaccine
National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members will not be mandated to take the vaccine across the 37 orientation camps in the country. This was stated by the Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim.
Rather than make it compulsory, the DG advised that it should be taken for personal protection against the deadly virus.
His address reads in part, “Adhere strictly to all COVID-19 safety protocols, don’t expose yourselves to danger, and get vaccinated”.
For those who indicated that they want to be vaccinated, officials from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) will tour the camps to administer shots of the vaccine.
Akwa Ibom stops free treatment of covid-19 patients
Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, has disclosed that the state will no longer be treating covid-19 patients for free because of the financial implications.
He said, “Whatever has a beginning must also have an end. We may not continue with that level of treatment. It cost us a whole lot of money to treat one patient who is COVID-19 positive.”
In the last 1 year, the residents have been getting treatment without being charged for it once the test confirms that they are positive. He encouraged the residents to get vaccinated and follow the established protocols.
“Our prayer is that let the new variant not reach us as a country. I don’t think we can handle it, judging from what we have seen in other places of the world,” he concluded.
FG disables passports of 90 travellers for violating covid-19 protocols
90 people have been placed on the watchlist by the federal government for violating covid-19 protocols. All of them arrived in the country between May 8 and 15 from Brazil, India and Turkey.
Source: TheCable.ng
All incoming passengers are supposed to embark on isolation for 2 weeks after their arrival. The defaulters did not follow through with the stipulated isolation period.
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In addition to reporting to the nearest public health departments, all of the violators will have their passports disabled for 1 year while the foreigners among them will have their visas cancelled. They will also be prosecuted under the 2021 Health Protection Regulations for abusing the country’s hospitality.
2 Chinese health companies suspended over test result scam
Two Chinese companies in the health sector have been suspended by the Chinese Consulate on accounts of tampering with covid-19 test results. The companies, whose names are undisclosed, have been suspended from applying for health codes for 2 weeks after three of their staff were found to have changed the IgG antibody test result.
Passengers with negative test results are able to book plane tickets and travel outside the country. However, the three men, aged 29 to 49, switched test results to allow infected persons to board planes, while putting other passengers on board at risk. The Consulate also suspended the three men from applying for health codes for 2 months.
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