TheCable

Nigeria recorded 636 cases of COVID-19 on Friday. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Saturday.

Africa CDC: Why we chose Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine for the continent

The Africa Centre for Disease Control has explained why the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) vaccine was chosen for the continent.

Amadou Cheick Tidiane, Africa CDC representative, said the vaccine was chosen because it is a single-shot vaccine with a long shelf-life.

“First of all, as a single-shot vaccine, it is easier and cheaper to administer; second, the vaccine has a long shelf-life and favourable storage conditions,” he said.

“Last, but not least, the vaccine is partly manufactured on the African continent, with fill-finish activities taking place in South Africa.”

On Thursday, the federal government took delivery of the first batch of 177,600 doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, which was procured through the AU’s AVAT and the facility provided by Afreximbank.

Group raises the alarm over impact of COVID-19 on food production

The Heifer International, an organisation working to eradicate poverty and hunger, has raised the alarm over possible food crisis in Africa following the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young farmers.

The group said farmers need funding and training in agri-tech to effectively contribute to food production and distribution.

A study carried out by the group in Nigeria and 11 other countries across Africa, and contained in a report, noted that almost half of youths on the continent involved in the food chain have closed shops while another huge chunk of the farmers lack the financial capacity to grow back their businesses.

US approves third shot of COVID vaccine for those with weak immune system

The US authorities have approved a third dose of COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna for people with compromised immune systems, who may have weaker protection with two doses of vaccine.

The development means that those who have had organ transplants and weakened immune system get one more shot to complement what they have received earlier.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved the recommendation on Friday as immunocompromised individuals are expected to start receiving the shots immediately.

Namibia eases COVID-19 restrictions as infection declines

President Hage Geingob of Namibia, on Friday said the country has recorded a downward trend in new COVID-19 infections, death ratio and positivity ratio.

The president said the positivity ratio has fallen from 28 percent to 15 percent, attributing the development to the measures taken by the government.

He announced a relaxation on some measures, including raising the ceiling of people allowed in public gatherings from 50 to 100.

He said the government also is allowing gyms, nightclubs and casinos to operate at half capacity and resumption of contact sports without spectators.

The relaxed restrictions would remain in effect from Saturday midnight up to Sept. 14.

Nigeria records 636 COVID cases as surge in infection continues

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 636 cases of COVID-19 across the country.

According to the agency’s update for August 13, the infections were recorded in 16 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

The new infections indicated a 15.5 percent decrease from the cases reported on Thursday.

Lagos recorded the highest number of infections with 291 cases followed by Rivers with 117 and Taraba with 58.

The agency, however, said the cases recorded for Taraba are a backlog from July to August, 2021.

Other states that reported cases on Friday include Akwa Ibom (54), Kwara (28), Ekiti (14), Ogun (14), FCT (13), Oyo (11), Edo (9), Osun (6), Bayelsa (5), Delta (4), Gombe (4), Abia (3), Plateau (3), and Sokoto (1).

The NCDC data showed that 149 patients recovered from the infection on Friday, while 11 persons died of COVID complications.

So far, Nigeria has confirmed 181,297 cases, 166,709 recoveries and 2,211 deaths across the country and the FCT.

COVID-19 IN NIGERIA