The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that there might not be an immediate solution or cure to the COVID-19 pandemic despite the positive outcomes at the different levels of trials of vaccines for the virus.

The WHO said that despite strong hopes for a vaccine, there might never be a silver bullet for COVID-19, and the road to normality would be long.

According to the latest data, the coronavirus pandemic has infected over 18.1 million people with more than 690,000 fatalities globally since late January, when the virus was first reported. This is just as some countries that thought they worst was over for them started experiencing a second wave of outbreak.

The Director-General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and Mike Ryan, WHO head of emergencies, urged governments and citizens to focus on known basic steps to contain the pandemic such as testing, contact tracing, maintaining physical distance and putting on a mask.

Tedros in a virtual news briefing in Geneva, said, ‘’The message to people and governments is clear, Do it all. He said face masks should become a symbol of solidarity around the world. A number of vaccines are now in phase three clinical trials and we all hope to have a number of effective vaccines that can help prevent people from infection. However, there’s no silver bullet at the moment, and there might never be.’’ 

Chinese Investigation

The WHO officials revealed that an advanced investigation team that was sent to China where the virus started, are not yet back. The UN health agency sent an epidemiologist and an animal health specialist to China on July 10 to lay the groundwork for a probe aimed at identifying how the virus entered the human species.

Tedros said WHO and Chinese experts had agreed on the terms of reference and a programme of work for a WHO-led international team of scientists and researchers from around the world. They are to study the origins of the virus in the city of Wuhan.

The WHO boss encouraged mothers to continue breastfeeding even if they had COVID-19, as the benefits outweigh the risks associated with infection.

Tedros also said the international hunt for a vaccine has been historic against the backdrop of the coronavirus disease being the biggest global health emergency since the early 20^th century.

Tedros said, ‘’There are many vaccines under trial, a couple in the final stage of clinical trials – and there is hope. It does not mean that we will have the vaccine, but at least the speed with which we reached the level we reached now is unprecedented.”

“There are concerns that we may not have a vaccine that may work or its protection could be for just a few months, not more. But until we finish the clinical trials, we will not know.”

The Lagos State Government has introduced some measures and conditions that must be met/fulfiled by all religious centres and places of worships that are planning to reopen, following further relaxation of lockdown.

These measures were contained in a press statement that was issued by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and seen by Nairametrics.

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Nairametrics had reported that the Lagos State Governor on Saturday, August 1, during his 17^th briefing on the state’s COVID-19 response, announced the reopening of worship centres with effect from August 7th. Now, the Lagos State Government has specified that the following conditions must be met for worship centres that are planning to open;

• Only regular services/gatherings are permitted to hold. Night vigils and other non-regular programmes remain prohibited until further notice.
• Attendees above 65 years are strongly discouraged from attending worship services.
• Consider holding services and gatherings in large, well-ventilated areas or outdoors, as circumstances and faith tradition allow.
• No face mask, no entry policy, must be maintained throughout the duration of the services.
• Regular cleaning and disinfection of facilities must be carried out to maintain clean and hygienic environments before and after every service.
• Appropriate screening equipment for COVID-19 symptoms such as a contactless temperature check must be available for entrants into the facility.
• It is mandatory to provide hand-washing facilities and sanitizers at the entry and exit point of the premises.
• National emergency response phone lines must be displayed prominently on the premises.
• Handshakes, hugs and high fives are not permitted at services or gatherings and this should be emphasized by displaying appropriate signs prominently.
• The use of stationary collection boxes and electronic methods for collection of the offering must be encouraged.
• The flow of human traffic in and out of these places of worship must be conducted in an organized and orderly manner.

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The Governor urged Lagosians to fully comply with the measures outlined in the new regulations, stressing that Lagos State Safety Commission has a statutory responsibility to monitor the activities and operations of all organizations and worship centres that have been permitted to re-open.

*COVID-19* : Measures taken by the Lagos State Government to further relax the lockdown.@jidesanwoolu @drobafemihamzat @gbenga_omo @gboyegaakosile @Mr_JAGss#LASG #ForAGreaterLagos #LagosAgainstCovid19 pic.twitter.com/0t8ti49wYz

— The Lagos State Govt (@followlasg) August 2, 2020

The spread of novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria continues to record significant increase as the latest statistics provided by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reveal Nigeria now has 44,129 confirmed cases.

On the 3rd of August 2020, 288 new confirmed cases and 8 deaths were recorded in Nigeria, having carried out a total daily test of 1,441 samples across the country.

To date, 44,129 cases have been confirmed, 20,663 cases have been discharged and 896 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. A total of 287,532 tests have been carried out as of August 3rd, 2020 compared to 286,091 tests a day earlier.

COVID-19 Case Updates- 3rd August 2020,

• Total Number of Cases – 44,129
• Total Number Discharged – 20,663
• Total Deaths – 896
• Total Tests Carried out – 287,532

According to the NCDC, the 288 new cases were reported from 15 states- Lagos (88), Kwara (33), Osun (27), FCT (25), Enugu (25), Abia (20), Kaduna (17), Plateau (13), Rivers (13), Delta (10), Gombe (8), Ogun (4), Oyo (3), Katsina (1), Bauchi (1).

Meanwhile, the latest numbers bring Lagos state total confirmed cases to 15,355, followed by Abuja (3,997), Oyo (2,771), Edo (2,311), Rivers (1,842), Kano (1,597), Delta (1,520), Kaduna (1,498), Ogun (1,407), Plateau (1,240), Ondo (1,204), Enugu (846), Ebonyi (808), Kwara (786), Katsina (746), Gombe (620), Borno (613), Abia (602), Osun (580), and Bauchi (561).

Imo State has recorded 469 cases, Benue (356), Nasarawa and Bayelsa (339), Jigawa (322), Niger (223), Akwa Ibom (221), Adamawa (164), Sokoto (154), Ekiti (152), Anambra (135),  Kebbi (90), Zamfara (77), Yobe (67), Cross River (58), Taraba (54),  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.

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