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COVID-19 cases witnessed a sharp rise on Tuesday as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control logged 404 cases. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Wednesday. 

It’s possible we are yet to see worst of COVID-19, says Ehanire

Osagie Ehanire, minister of health, says there is a possibility that the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic has not been experienced.

The minister spoke on Tuesday at the maiden edition of the Nigerian Conference of Applied and Field Epidemiology (NiCAFE) 2021 in Abuja.

He said the ministry of health had put measures in place to strengthen the country’s health security.

Ehanire, who was represented by Chikwe Ihekweazu, the NCDC director-general, said the measures include the establishment of the National Reference Laboratory and the establishment of at least one molecular laboratory in all the states of the federation and the FCT.

Ten cases of Delta COVID variant detected in Nigeria

The NCDC says 10 cases of the Delta COVID-19 variant have been detected in Nigeria.

Ihekweazu, the agency director-general, represented by Elsie Ilori, director of disease surveillance department, said this at the ministerial briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja.

While giving an update on Nigeria’s COVID-19 situation, Ihekweazu said though progress has been made in response to the pandemic with the fast-paced development of diagnostic, therapeutic, and vaccines globally, variants of concern with increased transmissibility pose a threat.

Nigeria records 404 infections

There was a sharp rise in the number of COVID-19 cases on Tuesday as Nigeria recorded 404 fresh infections.

The NCDC, in an update of July 27, 2021, said the new cases were reported in 11 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

Lagos state, the epicentre of the pandemic in the country, recorded 356 cases representing 88 percent of the total infections recorded on Tuesday.

Rivers reported 18 infections, followed by FCT with 7 cases, while Ekiti logged 5 infections.

Other states include Kaduna (5), Gombe (3), Kano (3), Edo (2), Ogun (2), Bayelsa (1), Plateau (1) and Nasarawa (1).

According to the agency, 39 persons were discharged after recovering from the infection.

The NCDC said no death was recorded on Tuesday, leaving the fatality toll at 2,134.

Since the index cases in February 2020, 171,728 infections have been confirmed, with 164,837 recoveries across the country.

Washington Post to make COVID vaccination compulsory for staff

Washington Post, a US-based newspaper, says all employees will be required to present proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 by September as a prerequisite of employment.

Fred Ryan, publisher of the newspaper, said this in a memo released on Tuesday, adding that only those with medical and health concerns may be exempted.

“Even though the overwhelming majority of Post employees have already provided proof of vaccination, I do not take this decision lightly,” Ryan said in the memo.

“However, in considering the serious health issues and genuine safety concerns of so many Post employees, I believe the plan is the right one.”

Tokyo Olympic Games-linked COVID-19 cases rise to 169

Sixteen more people linked to the Tokyo Olympics have tested positive for COVID-19.

The Games organisers disclosed this during a media briefing on Wednesday.

This brings the total positive samples as compiled by organisers since July 1 to 169.

COVID-19 IN NIGERIA