•Oyo to enforce compulsory use of facemasks
•49 new cases recorded, total now 542, while 166 have been discharged
•Global death toll hits 160, 755; over 2.3 million people infected
•49 new cases recorded, total now 542, while 166 have been discharged
•Global death toll hits 160, 755; over 2.3 million people infected
There is currently no evidence to support the belief that people who
have recovered from (COVID-19) are immune to the virus and
may not catch it again, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.
The United Kingdom’s Daily Mirror quoted senior WHO epidemiologists as
warning that despite the hopes governments across the world have piled
on antibody tests, there is no proof those who have been infected cannot
be infected again.
Nigeria recorded 49 new cases as at
10.40pm yesterday. The breakdown is as follows: Lagos 23, FCT 12, Kano
10, Ogun 2, Oyo and Ekiti 1 respectively; bringing the total of
confirmed cases in Nigeria so far to 542, while 166 people have
recovered from the disease and 19 succumb to the virus. As at yesterday,
Nigeria has 357 active cases.
Meanwhile, Nigeria continued to record
recoveries from the coronavirus pandemic on Saturday, with
Lagos, Edo, and Osun states discharging patients.
In Oyo State, the governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, said the state government had resolved to produce one million facemasks for use in the state as a way of curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus. Makinde said the state had also decided to enforce the compulsory use of facemasks in public.
In Oyo State, the governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, said the state government had resolved to produce one million facemasks for use in the state as a way of curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus. Makinde said the state had also decided to enforce the compulsory use of facemasks in public.
Johns Hopkins University stated at the
weekend that coronavirus pandemic had infected more than 2.25 million people
worldwide and killed at least 158, 000.
Daily Mirror reported that the British
government had bought 3.5 million serology test kits, which measure
levels of antibodies in blood plasma, even though they were not
definitive of growing levels of herd immunity.
“Many tests being developed are pin
prick blood tests similar to widely used instant HIV tests and measure
for raised levels of the antibodies the body uses to fight the virus,”
the Mail reported.
But speaking at a press conference in
Geneva, an American infectious disease epidemiologist, who works for
WHO, Dr Maria van Kerkhove, said, “There are a lot of countries that are
suggesting using rapid diagnostic serological tests to be able to
capture what they think will be a measure of immunity.
“Right now, we have no evidence that the use of a serological test can show that an individual has immunity or is protected from reinfection.”
“Right now, we have no evidence that the use of a serological test can show that an individual has immunity or is protected from reinfection.”
Kerkhove added, “These antibody tests
will be able to measure that level of seroprevalence – that level of
antibodies. But that does not mean that somebody with antibodies means
that they are immune.”
She said it was “a good thing” that so many tests were being developed, but cautioned, “We need to ensure that they are validated so that we know what they say they attempt to measure they are actually measuring.”
Kerkhove’s colleague, Dr Michael Ryan, said the antibody tests also raised ethical questions.
She said it was “a good thing” that so many tests were being developed, but cautioned, “We need to ensure that they are validated so that we know what they say they attempt to measure they are actually measuring.”
Kerkhove’s colleague, Dr Michael Ryan, said the antibody tests also raised ethical questions.
“There are serious ethical issues around
the use of such an approach and we need to address it very carefully,
we also need to look at the length of protection that antibodies might
give,” Ryan said.
“You might have someone who believes they are seropositive (have been infected) and protected in a situation where they may be exposed and, in fact, they are susceptible to the disease.”
“You might have someone who believes they are seropositive (have been infected) and protected in a situation where they may be exposed and, in fact, they are susceptible to the disease.”
Other experts agreed with them.
Associate Professor in Cellular Microbiology, University of Reading, Dr
Simon Clarke, said, “I agree with Dr Maria van Kerkhove from the WHO.
The overconfident assertion by some that having antibodies to the
coronavirus causing COVID-19 gives immunity, has been made without any
evidence and by some people who should know better. It is reasonable to
assume that, as someone recovers from the infection, the immunity they
generate will persist for some time, maybe weeks, months or years, but
nobody actually knows. We simply don’t yet know what would make someone
immune to coronavirus pandemic or whether long-term immunity is even possible.”
Visiting Professor in Medical Virology, Imperial College London,
Professor Richard Tedder, said, “When someone has been infected with thecoronavirus , there is an immunological response to the virus, which includes the production of antibody. It is correct to say that we are not certain that the presence of this recovery antibody will necessarily protect the person against re-infection. There are a number of reasons for this uncertainty.
Professor Richard Tedder, said, “When someone has been infected with thecoronavirus , there is an immunological response to the virus, which includes the production of antibody. It is correct to say that we are not certain that the presence of this recovery antibody will necessarily protect the person against re-infection. There are a number of reasons for this uncertainty.
“Firstly, it has proved very difficult
to produce an antibody test which is both sensitive enough to detect
antibody in all recovered patients and of sufficient accuracy not to
generate false-positive results. Globally there has been an immense
amount of work in developing a range of antibody tests some of which are
excellent and some of which are not. In addition, the level of the
antibody in the recovered person varies quite widely with a number of
studies showing that mild infections are associated with a lower
antibody response in recovery.
“Secondly, there are reports of
re-infection, but whether these instances are re-infections as such or
the persistence of shedding of the virus at low level in the recovery
period remains to be defined.”
American television outlet, CNN, also reported a similar finding. It
said, “In South Korea, health officials are trying to solve a mystery:
why 163 people who recovered from coronavirus have retested positive,
according to the Korea Centre for Disease Control and Prevention
(KCDC).”
According to CNN, the same has been
recorded in China, where some coronavirus patients tested positive after
seeming to recover, although there are no official figures. While
experts are still studying the reason for this, a Chinese top
respiratory expert, Zhong Nanshan, had during a press conference last
week said a recovered person could test positive because fragments of
the disease remained in their body.
The Mail also reported that UK
government pounced on an early offer of potential tests kits produced in
China with the New York Times reporting officials agreed to pay
apparoximately $20 million to secure the home testing kits. The paper
reported, “However, when the antibody tests were put through their paces
they were found not to be sufficiently accurate and as a result could
not be used. Officials are now scrambling to try to get the money back.
“Downing Street did not deny the claims
but the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman said he was not aware of the
specific $20 million figure.
“The spokesman said: ‘Where tests are shown not to have any prospect of working, then we will seek to recover as much of the costs as we can.'”
“The spokesman said: ‘Where tests are shown not to have any prospect of working, then we will seek to recover as much of the costs as we can.'”
More Recoveries in Lagos, Edo, Osun
Meanwhile, Osun State Government said on
Saturday it had discharged one COVID-19 patient after two negative
tests for the virus, in line with the National Centre for Disease
Control (NCDC) protocol. The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu,
disclosed this.
“This afternoon, another coronavirus patient was released from our Isolation centre, having fully recovered
and tested negative twice for the virus, in compliance with the NCDC
protocol,” Isamotu said.
He appealed to citizens and residents of the state to continue to comply with measures put in place by the government to curb the spread of the virus.
He appealed to citizens and residents of the state to continue to comply with measures put in place by the government to curb the spread of the virus.
“Let me on behalf of Mr. Governor,
Adegboyega Oyetola, appeal to our people to continue to comply with the
sit-at-home order and observe basic personal hygiene habits.
Collectively, we shall eradicate coronavirus in our dear state. Kudos to
my colleagues in the health sector for their service to the state,” the
commissioner said.
Lagos State Government also discharged
four more coronavirus patients, bringing to 94 the total number of
successfully treated persons in the state. Announcing this Saturday, the
Incident Commander on COVID-19 in Lagos State, Governor Babajide
Sanwo-Olu, said three of those discharged were male while one was
female.
Sanwo-Olu said, “The patients: two from the Infectious Disease Hospital,
Yaba, and two others from Onikan Isolation Centre, have fully recovered
and tested negative twice consecutively to COVID-19.”
Edo State Government on Saturday
announced the discharge of the sixth coronavirus patient in the state,
after the patient tested negative twice for the virus and was cleared
for discharge at one of the state’s isolation centres.
In a statement, Governor Godwin Obaseki,
said, “Good people of Edo State, I have good news again today. One more
coronavirus patient has tested negative twice for the virus and cleared
to return home.
“Please, stay safe and stay at home, as we intensify efforts to check the spread of coronavirus in our dear state.”
“Please, stay safe and stay at home, as we intensify efforts to check the spread of coronavirus in our dear state.”
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Patrick
Okundia, in a chat with journalists, urged residents with the symptoms
of coronavirus to seize the opportunity of the on-going massive
screening across the state to ascertain their status, stressing that
prompt detection and treatment increases the chances of survival.
Okundia called on Edo sons and daughters to support the state
government’s efforts to halt the spread of the virus by coming out for
screening, testing and treatment, as well as complying with guidelines
to contain the infectious disease. He explained that the state had
recorded a total of 15 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with six fully
recovered and discharged, and contact tracing on-going for about 330
persons who had different levels of contact with those who tested
positive to the virus. He said the number of suspected cases had
increased to 123.
Assuring that COVID-19 was not a death
sentence, Okundia stated, “The government encourages everyone with
symptoms of the disease to come out for screening, testing and treatment
as prompt detection and treatment increases the chances of survival. coronavirus pandemic is not a death sentence and not a lifelong disease. Once
treated and discharged, you are free to live a normal life.
“All citizens of Edo State are hereby
encouraged to abide strictly with government directives on social
distancing, use of facemask in the public, regular hand washing with
soap and running water or using alcohol-based sanitisers, cough
etiquette and compliance with the stay-at-home order.”
He added, “COVID-19 is real with immense impact on the health and
wellbeing on the general populace and we all have a collective
responsibility to contribute our quota in ending this scourge.“I want to use this medium to commend the health workers of Edo State and our partners for a job well done so far. If you have any coronavirus symptoms, please call these toll-free lines that have been activated by Edo State Government for assistance: 08001235111 and 08002200110.”
Oyo to Enforce Compulsory Use of Facemasks
Oyo State Government said it had decided
to produce one million facemasks. Governor Seyi Makinde, who disclosed
this to newsmen at Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, said some countries
had found the use of masks helpful in limiting the spread of COVID-19.
A statement by the chief press secretary
to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying, “As I
stated in an earlier interview, one of the measures we considered to
prevent, contain and control the spread of coronavirus pandemic in Oyo State is the
compulsory use of facemasks in the public. We reached a decision to
implement this measure. What we are saying is, if you must leave your
house and come to any public place, you must wear facemask.
“We know that we are in a very tough
economic environment right now. So, what Oyo State Government wants to
do is to produce an initial one million facemasks to kick-start masks in
public place policy in Oyo State.
“What we have also done is to link up with the artisans: 100 of the tailors will be commissioned by Monday, 20th of April, to make 10,000 facemasks each.
“What we have also done is to link up with the artisans: 100 of the tailors will be commissioned by Monday, 20th of April, to make 10,000 facemasks each.
Makinde said the on-going massive
“Drive-Through/Walk-Through Testing” at the Lekan Salami Stadium,
Adamasingba, Ibadan, was already yielding results, with four new cases
confirmed from the tests.
He announced a shift for the resumption of work at the State Secretariat from April 20 to April 27, citing expert evaluation of the virus situation.
He announced a shift for the resumption of work at the State Secretariat from April 20 to April 27, citing expert evaluation of the virus situation.
The governor said to ensure food
security postcoronavirus pandemic, the government had embarked on an enlightenment
campaign for farmers. He said the state had also gone into partnership
with the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the
Institute of Agriculture Research and Training (IAR&T) to achieve a
seamless planting season.
On the distribution of palliatives,
Makinde said the state’s data for the exercise was ready, explaining
that it has been able to identify the poorest of the poor, who will be
the beneficiaries.
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