Nigeria Records 50% Increase In COVID-19 Cases After Relaxing Lockdown

Nigeria has witnessed a spike in its number of active COVID-19 cases after relaxing the five weeks lockdown.

According to data from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, the country recorded more than half of its total confirmed COVID-19 cases within two weeks of relaxing the lockdown

President Muhammadu Buhari had, In March, declared a lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja for a period of five weeks in order to curtail the spread of the disease.

He, however, eased the lockdown on May 4 following cries of hardship and hunger.

Consequently, partial reopening of the economy and the movement of persons within the mentioned states and the federal capital territory.

However, data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) shows that the country recorded more than half of its total confirmed cases after the lockdown was eased.

Prior to the easing of the lockdown, Nigeria recorded 2,558 cases as of May 3.

The country also had on record, 400 discharged patients and 87 deaths.

Lagos, Kano, FCT, Gombe, Borno, Kaduna and Ogun made the top seven states with the highest number of cases as of the time.

Conversely, two weeks after the lockdown was eased, the country recorded a massive upsurge in the number of cases from 2,558 to 5,959.

The figures have not only risen, the daily toll has also increased.

On May 7, Nigeria recorded its highest daily toll with 381 confirmed cases, but the record now appears to be short-lived as 338 COVID-19 cases were confirmed on Sunday.

Although, the country has discharged 1,594 patients, 182 persons have died from the disease.

Lagos, Kano, FCT, Katsina, Bauchi, Borno and Jigawa are now the top seven on the list of 34 states and the federal capital territory with the highest number of COVID-19 cases.

Compared to the data of May 3, Nigeria recorded an additional 3,401 cases during the two weeks the lockdown was eased. 1,194 patients recovered from the disease during the period, while 95 deaths were recorded.