TheCable

For the second consecutive day, the number of COVID-19 infections in the country hit a new low as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed 288 new cases.

The agency confirmed the new cases in 14 states and the federal capital territory (FCT) on Monday night.

The new figure of positive samples is the lowest in over two months.

The number of recoveries recorded a significant increase over the past 48 hours, with 355 people discharged on Monday, compared to 221 recoveries for Sunday – a total of 20,663 people have been confirmed negative for the virus by the NCDC.

While Taraba state has not recorded any fatality, with eight new deaths, a total of 896 people have died of COVID-19 complications in 35 states and the FCT.

288 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;

Lagos-88
Kwara-33
Osun-27
FCT-25
Enugu-25
Abia-20
Kaduna-17
Plateau-13
Rivers-13
Delta-10
Gombe-8
Ogun-4
Oyo-3
Katsina-1
Bauchi-1

Advertisement

44,129 confirmed
20,663 discharged
896 deaths pic.twitter.com/NbSo7H63Lx

— NCDC (@NCDCgov) August 3, 2020

Although the figures have shown a reduced rate of infection over the past four days, the NCDC says it is still too early to relax the guidelines for preventing the spread of the virus.

Speaking at the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 briefing on Monday, Chikwe Ihekweazu, director general of NCDC, said while the country’s infection curve doesn’t look too bad, “it is too early to celebrate”.

He called for sustained efforts towards ensuring the accessibility to vaccines when they become available, and also stressing the need for the country to “be better involved in the research and development and, of course, manufacturing” in relation to such endeavours.