UK dangerous COVID-19 variant lands in Nigeria

UK easily transmissible COVID-19 variant is in Nigeria, Boss Mustapha, chairman, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, announced on Monday.

According to him, Nigeria has recorded four cases of the variant called B117 strain.

“Over the last few weeks, the PTF had been closely following the rising number of infections reported daily in Nigeria and in other jurisdictions.

“Similarly, our scientists have been sequencing the variants of the virus.

“There have been reports of cases with the B117 variant strain first reported in the UK, found in Nigeria. Three of these were in travellers out of Nigeria and one in a resident,”.

As at January 24, Nigeria had 121,566; total tests so far were 1,270,523, while active cases were 22,834.

Nigeria has also discharged 97,228 patients and death toll stood at 1,504.

In 7 days, ending Jan. 23, Nigeria conducted 58,974 while cases recorded were 11,179, with a positivity of 19.0 per cent.

“Sixty-two deaths were recorded, with case fatality ratio of 0.6 per cent; active cases stood at 23,568 at 19.4 per cent.

“All these numbers represent increases from the previous seven days and we are looking at taking further public health containment measures in local government areas that are considered high burden,” he explained.

– PMNewsNigeria