Nigeria Records Six New Cases Of UK COVID-19 Variant

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

• Panic As Osun Records Five New Cases Of B117 Strain Of COVID-19
• COVID-19: CJ Halts Physical Court Proceedings, Orders Staff To Work Remotely

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), on Monday, confirmed six new cases of the B117 strain of COVID-19 which was first found in the United Kingdom.

The Director-General of the NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu, who disclosed this during the Presidential Task Force (PTF) briefing in Abuja, said the new infections recorded brings the total cases of the new variant to seven.

Ihekweazu, who bemoaned the rising number of deaths in the country stressed that the COVID-19 strain which was first reported in the United Kingdom is deadlier and as such Nigerians must be careful.

Read also: Deadly COVID-19 Strain Found In UK Now In Nigeria – FG

According to the NCDC DG, in the last week, 75 health workers reportedly tested positive, a development which he describes as worrisome.

Ihekweazu, however, revealed that rapid test kits have been approved in five hospitals within the FCT, adding that the plan is to later deploy the kits to other parts of the country.

He enjoined governors to approach the NCDC for guidance on how to use the kits and urged all stakeholders to help stop the increasing level of stigma around the virus, which is making many people stay away from getting tested.

Recall that Eko Hot Blog reported last week that the PTF announced that the COVID-19 strain first reported in the UK had been discovered in Nigeria.