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China lends helping hand, as Nigeria seeks support to curb coronavirus
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire has called on China to assist Nigeria in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire has called on China to assist Nigeria in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic as the confirmed cases increase daily.
Ehanire, who made this plea when the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian visited the Ministry in Abuja, said that Nigeria is in dire need of technical support to enable the country win the fight against coronavirus just as China had done.
While commending the Chinese government for the measures put in place in making the country normal again, as businesses and organisations have been allowed to reopen, Ehanire said that same measures would be used in Nigeria to control the virus.
The Minister asked that the Chinese government support Nigeria with its public health experts, which would aide the country to review its strategies. He said that Nigeria would like to learn from the Chinese government on how they were able to put in place unprecedented containment and social distancing measures.
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Ehanire said that in addition to public health experts, the country also needs Mobility for contact tracing, ventilators, testing kits, and Personal Protective Equipment,(PPE).
Commenting on the call of assistance from the minister, the Chinese ambassador said that China would not forget sympathy and support extended by Nigeria when the Chinese people were in the most challenging stage of battling the Coronavirus epidemic.
Pingjian said that the Chinese government have full confidence in Nigeria’s determination and capacity to defeat the virus ultimately, which is why it would try its best to provide medical supplies to Nigeria and do whatever it would do to support the country.
He also advocated for Nigerians to continue to treat the Chinese national in the country as their brothers and sisters, especially in these hard times.
“Virus respect no borders. In the face of public health emergencies, common challenge humanity, the most powerful weapon we have is solidarity and cooperation. To protect the health and wellbeing of the Nigerian people and actually all the people living in Nigeria, the authorities have been working assiduously on the epidemic response in a science-based, rational and professional way from day one.
“China will continue to share information and experience with Nigeria, and strengthen cooperation on containment, treatment and vaccines in response to the COVID-19 challenge, with a view to building together a community of shared health for mankind,” Pingjian added.
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During the visit, the Chinese ambassador donated medical supplies and equipment to the ministry. The items include Gloves, N-95 mask, Surgical mask, Shoe Cover, Headcover, Digital clinical thermometer and Handheld non-contact infrared thermometer.
Also included are hand sanitizers with dispenser stands and refills, Chlorine disinfectant bleach, Disposable surgical gown, White Safety boots, liquid hand wash, Couch rolls, Tyvek suit, Goggles, laptop, desktop, printer, copier and scanner machine.
Coronavirus
COVID-19 Update in Nigeria
On the 25th of February 2021, 634 new confirmed cases and 6 deaths were recorded in Nigeria
The spread of novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria continues to record significant increases as the latest statistics provided by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reveal Nigeria now has 154,476 confirmed cases.
On the 25th of February 2021, 634 new confirmed cases and 6 deaths were recorded in Nigeria.
To date, 154,476 cases have been confirmed, 131,699 cases have been discharged and 1,891 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. A total of 1.49 million tests have been carried out as of February 25th, 2021 compared to 1.44 million tests a day earlier.
COVID-19 Case Updates- 25th February 2021,
- Total Number of Cases – 154,476
- Total Number Discharged – 131,722
- Total Deaths – 1,891
- Total Tests Carried out – 1,489,103
According to the NCDC, the 634 new cases are reported from 22 states- Lagos (259), Osun (45), Edo(38), Ogun (35), FCT (33), Anambra (26), Imo (24), Ondo (24), Akwa Ibom (20), Plateau (20), Abia (19), Kaduna (19), Ebonyi (17), Borno (10), Rivers (10), Kano (9), Delta (8), Kebbi (7), Nasarawa (4) Oyo (3), Enugu (2) and Ekiti (2).
Meanwhile, the latest numbers bring Lagos state total confirmed cases to 55,122, followed by Abuja (19,115), Plateau (8,854), Kaduna (8,422), Oyo (6,708), Rivers (6,398), Edo (4,491), Ogun (4,277), Kano (3,716), Ondo (2,944), Kwara (2,875), Delta (2,539), Osun (2,326), Nasarawa (2,208), Gombe (2,031), Katsina (2,029), Enugu (1,998), Ebonyi (1,839), Anambra (1,615), and Abia (1,487).
Imo State has recorded 1,440 cases, Akwa Ibom (1,439), Borno (1,247), Bauchi (1,221), Benue (1,188), Niger (912), Ekiti (797), Sokoto (768), Bayelsa (767), Adamawa (762), Taraba (712), Jigawa (496), Kebbi (358), Yobe (268), Cross River (267), Zamfara (219), while Kogi state has recorded 5 cases only.
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Lock Down and Curfew
In a move to combat the spread of the pandemic disease, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the cessation of all movements in Lagos and the FCT for an initial period of 14 days, which took effect from 11 pm on Monday, 30th March 2020.
The movement restriction, which was extended by another two weeks period, has been partially put on hold with some businesses commencing operations from May 4. On April 27th, 2020, Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari declared an overnight curfew from 8 pm to 6 am across the country, as part of new measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19. This comes along with the phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures in FCT, Lagos, and Ogun States, which took effect from Saturday, 2nd May 2020, at 9 am.
On Monday, 29th June 2020 the federal government extended the second phase of the eased lockdown by 4 weeks and approved interstate movement outside curfew hours with effect from July 1, 2020. Also, on Monday 27th July 2020, the federal government extended the second phase of eased lockdown by an additional one week.
On Thursday, 6th August 2020 the federal government through the secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 announced the extension of the second phase of eased lockdown by another four (4) weeks.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State announced the closed down of the Eti-Osa Isolation Centre, with effect from Friday, 31st July 2020. He also mentioned that the Agidingbi Isolation Centre would also be closed and the patients relocated to a large capacity centre.
Due to the increased number of covid-19 cases in Nigeria, the Nigerian government ordered the reopening of Isolation and treatment centres in the country on Thursday, 10th December 2020.
On 26th January 2021, the Federal Government announced the extension of the guidelines of phase 3 of the eased lockdown by one month following the rising cases of the coronavirus disease in the country and the expiration of phase 3 of the eased lockdown.
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