WITH last night’s confirmation of additional 108 cases by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the number of people that have tested positive for COVID-19 is now 981.
The new cases are in Lagos (78); Federal Capital Territory (14); Ogun (five); Gombe (five); Borno (three); Akwa Ibom (two) Kwara (one) and one in Plateau as index case.
According to the NCDC, the death toll rose from 28 to 31. The number of discharged patients is 197.
More than 40 health workers, including doctors have tested positive for coronavirus, Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire said on Thursday.
He said it had become critically important for health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion and protect themselves adequately with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the line of duty.
Ehanire, speaking at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 in Abuja, said: “I applaud our health workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government will continue to provide you with the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and I urge you to take all necessary precautions for your own safety.
“Please do not treat any patient without using adequate PPE, frontline health workers must undertake refresher training on IPC at intervals.
“This advice is become necessary due of the number of health workers who have tested positive, over 40 now, for COVID-19 or been quarantined, in the last two weeks due to exposure, and therefore not been able to contribute to the health sector effort. I urge you all to remain vigilant in the line of duty and maintain a high index if suspicion for COVID-19.
“We are still on hazard allowance for frontline health workers, as proposals have to be validated by the PTF. They also have to be validated by other authorities like the Minister of Finance etc. Therefore, there are other processes that will take place before it is announced. it is a work in progress and will not be hidden.”
The Medical Guild in Lagos says three of its members at Alimosho General Hospital and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, had tested positive for COVID-19.
Dr Oluwajimi Sodipo and Dr Ismail Ajibowo, Chairman and Secretary, of the Guild stated this on the Instagram account of the body.
Medical Guild is an umbrella body of doctors under the employment of the Lagos State Government.
Sodipo and Ajibowo said the three doctors had been admitted at different isolation facilities in Lagos for treatment.
They said that the medical conditions of their three members were stable, and were enjoying the support of the guild.
The guild leaders also said that the doctors at Alimosho General Hospital, Ikorodu General Hospital, Lagos General Hospital and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) had been exposed to COVID-19 cases.
“Since the incident, we have been working with our representatives in those centres, and the Medical Directors of the facilities to ensure testing of those involved.”