The Federal Ministry of Health has instructed state governments to increase the number of isolation centres even as the cases of COVID-19 reached 2,950 on Wednesday.
This directive was given by the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, in a press briefing of the Presidential Task Force, in Abuja, who also said it was important to carry out more tests to know the true state of the extent of the virus infections.
The minister said, “The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nigeria has continued to rise not unexpectedly, in view of prevailing circumstances in certain states. As at 11 pm on May 5, 148 persons had tested positive, bringing the total to 2,950 confirmed to have COVID-19 in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“We are encouraging and supporting states to increase the number of isolation centres nationwide, and we are extremely grateful to corporate organisations and philanthropists who have donated isolation facilities, diagnostic equipment, commodities and sundry supplies relevant to our response efforts to COVID-19 threat.
“We are clearly in community transmission phase, where much now depends on individual and collective behaviour and the urgency of behaviour change communication becomes apparent. Knowledge so far gathered about COVID-19 needs to be converted into practice, because our safety, now more than ever, depends on all of us.”
