TheCable

The Edo government says 16 unvaccinated people have died from COVID-19 in the state in the last 72 hours.

The new casualties increased Edo’s death toll from the third wave of the pandemic to 50.

Andrew Obi, the COVID-19 incident manager, said the state recorded 79 new cases and 103 recoveries within the period under review.

He said Edo has, so far in the third wave of the pandemic, recorded 1,004 confirmed cases with 608 still active.

The incident manager said 95.7 percent of confirmed cases recorded are unvaccinated persons, while symptomatic presentation increased by 146.9 percent, especially among young persons.

“Edo State is witnessing a steady rise in the number of deaths of persons who have not been inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccines, as the state, in the last 72 hours, recorded the death of 16 more unvaccinated persons,” he said.

“The new fatality brings to 50, the total number of deaths recorded in the third wave of the pandemic in the state. We also recorded 79 new cases from the 537 samples collected within the 72-hour timeframe and 103 recoveries from the virus.”

“All residents, who have been administered with the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine, to come out for the second dose in order to get full protection against the virus, while others who have not been vaccinated are encouraged to come out and get the vaccination. The vaccines are safe, free and effective.”

Edo is one of the states badly hit by the third wave of COVID-19, a situation that made Godwin Obaseki, governor of the state, threaten to restrict unvaccinated persons from public gatherings.

Obaseki had said the directive will take effect from the second week of September.

However, a federal high court in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, granted an order restraining Obaseki and the Edo government from restricting unvaccinated persons from attending mass gatherings.