Daily COVID Tracker: Nigeria records zero deaths, and Saudi to allow only immunised pilgrims

April 06

07:11 2021

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Nigeria on Monday reported 135 new cases of COVID-19 infections — with zero deaths. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Tuesday.

Seven athletes test positive for COVID-19 at NSF

Seven athletes have tested positive for COVID-19 at the ongoing 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) in Benin, Edo state, according to the local organising committee (LOC).

Musa Ebomhiana, project manager of LOC media and communications sub-committee, said the infected athletes have been quarantined at Stella Obasanjo Isolation Centre in Benin.

According to NAN, Ebomhiana said the affected athletes are from different states of the federation and stood disqualified from the festival.

“But it is a good one compared to the number of athletes and officials. It shows that the country is trying in flattening the curve of COVID-19,” he said.

Bangladesh enforces lockdown amid surge in COVID infections

Bangladesh has enforced a one-week lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The country has shut shopping malls and transportation system. Domestic flights, river transport and railway operations were also said to have been suspended on Monday — with only emergency services allowed to operate.

The government said the directive will remain in effect from 6am, April 5 to midnight of April 11.

Citizens have been asked not to move out from their homes from 6pm to 6am.

The decision was said to have been taken because of the surge in infections and rise in deaths witnessed in recent weeks.

Washington DC to ease COVID restrictions from May 1.

Muriel Bowser, mayor of Washington DC, says the district will ease many COVID restrictions from May 1.

Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Bowser said though infections may rise in the coming weeks owing to the Easter break, she expects cases to fall by May.

“We know that we can expect to see some increases in cases this month, but with vaccinations and continued safeguards, we expect that later in the spring that those cases will come down,” Muriel said.

She asked residents to get vaccinated as soon as they have the opportunity.

Nigeria records 135 fresh COVID-19 infections

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said 135 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in 11 states, including the federal capital territory (FCT) on Monday.

Kwara state topped the list of new cases with 37, while Lagos, the epicentre of the infection in Nigeria, reported 32 infections.

Other states that reported new infections are Ondo (23) Nasarawa (13) FCT (9) Kaduna (7) Rivers (6) Osun (3) Delta (2) Edo (2) and Borno (1).

The agency said 47 people were discharged on Monday including “18 community recoveries in Kaduna state”.

No new death was recorded on Monday just like on Sunday when no death was reported.

With the new cases, Nigeria now has 163,330 COVID-19 cases across the country. 152,045 persons have been discharged, while 2,058 have died of the infection.

Saudi Arabia to allow only immunised pilgrims to Mecca

Authorities in Saudi Arabia on Monday said only people immunised against COVID-19 will be allowed to perform the year-round Umrah pilgrimage, starting from the holy month of Ramadan.

According to a statement issued on Monday, the ministry of Hajj and Umrah said only “immunised people” will be granted permission to perform Umrah as well as pray in the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca.

The statement said those who will be granted permits include people who have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine; those who have received one dose of the vaccine for at least 14 days before performing the pilgrimage, and those who have recovered from the infection.