An experimental COVID-19 vaccine being created by America’s pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer, and the German firm, BioNTech, activated immune responses in receivers more than individuals naturally recovering from an infection, according to a small journal published online yesterday.

However, the research work has not yet been certified by other medical experts and it is still unknown what degree of immune response will protect an individual from falling sick. Still, medical experts praised Pfizer for publishing the data on 45 people and said the results encouraged moving to a larger clinical trial to test if the COVID-19 vaccine is actually safe and effective for humans.

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“It’s the first positive data I’ve seen coming out of Operation Warp Speed,” Peter Jay Hotez, dean for the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine said to Washington Post, referring to the U.S. government effort to speed up the development, testing, and production of multiple coronavirus vaccines. “I’m really happy Pfizer took the initiative to publish it, whereas the others haven’t. I think we need to see more of this.”

Quick fact about COVID-19: Although for some individuals, the COVID-19 virus causes only mild illness, it can make other individuals seriously ill. The disease can be very fatal, especially among older individuals, and those with compromised immunities (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart problems) appear to be more susceptible.

The 45 individuals were randomly selected in receiving injections of one of three different dose levels of the experimental COVID-19 vaccine. 21 days later, after the initial dose, they got a second one.

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Ugur Sahin, co-founder, and chief executive of BioNTech, told the Financial Times that his firm was going for a higher level of neutralizing antibody responses in order to increase the probability that those individuals vaccinated are prevented from spreading COVID-19 or being infected again.

“If you don’t know the level required to control this virus if you don’t know the power of the enemy, you don’t want the response to be too weak,” Sahin said.

The spread of novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria touched a new milestone as the latest statistics provided by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reveal Nigeria now has 26,484 confirmed cases.

On the 1st of July 2020, 790 new confirmed cases and 13 deaths were recorded in Nigeria, having carried out a total daily test of 4,205 samples across the country.

To date, 26,484 cases have been confirmed, 10,152 cases have been discharged and 603 deaths have been recorded in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory. A total of 138,462 tests have been carried out as of July 1st, 2020 compared to 134,257 tests a day earlier.

COVID-19 Case Updates- 1st July 2020

• Total Number of Cases – 26,484
• Total Number Discharged – 10,152
• Total Deaths – 603
• Total Tests Carried out – 138,462

According to the NCDC, the 790 new cases were reported from 21 states- Delta (166), Lagos (120), Enugu (66), FCT (65), Edo (60), Ogun (43), Kano (41), Kaduna (39), Ondo (33), Rivers (32), Bayelsa (29), Katsina (21), Imo (20), Kwara (18), Oyo (11), Abia (10), Benue (6), Gombe (4), Yobe (2), Bauchi (2), Kebbi (2).

Meanwhile, the latest numbers bring Lagos state total confirmed cases to 10,630, followed by Abuja (1,935), Oyo (1,391), Kano (1,257), Edo (1,165), Delta (1,131) Rivers (1,088), Ogun (869),  Kaduna (805), Katsina (578), Gombe (507). Bauchi (505), Borno (493), Ebonyi (438), Plateau (382), Imo (352), Enugu (327), Ondo (325), Abia (320), Jigawa (318).

Kwara state has recorded 235 cases, Bayelsa (234), Nasarawa (213), Sokoto (151), Osun (127), Niger (116), Akwa Ibom (86), Adamawa (84), Kebbi (81), Zamfara (76), Anambra (73), Benue (65), Yobe (61), Ekiti (43), Taraba (19), while Kogi state has recorded 4 cases.

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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.

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The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, has tested positive to the coronavirus disease. He now joins the list of top public officials that have contracted the disease.

This was personally confirmed by the Governor through a tweet post on his official Twitter handle on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

According to his post, ‘’Today I tested positive to coronavirus disease. All is well, I’m asymptomatic and have been self-isolating. Work continues. Your continued prayers over my well-being are most appreciated.’’

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Today I tested positive for #COVID19. All is well. I'm asymptomatic and have been self isolating. Work continues. Your continued prayers over my well being are most appreciated. pic.twitter.com/P5UH0SmBiw

— Arakunrin Akeredolu (@RotimiAkeredolu) June 30, 2020

The governor said that he had malaria a few days ago and was treated. However, he said that after the National Executive Council of his party, the APC, one of his colleagues advised that he should have a coronavirus test. He said that the result came out today, June 30 and he tested positive.

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However, the governor pointed out that he was asymptomatic and is yet to show any symptom of the disease. He said although he is not feeling sick or odd in any way, his doctors advised that he should take the normal treatment and self-isolate as he believes that supervised home management will be ideal for him for now.

Akeredolu also assured that work will be going on as he will be attending to files at home.

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The Ondo State Governor will be the latest high profile Nigerian to have contracted the disease. The immediate past Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, passed away last week after a serious illness due to complications from the coronavirus disease.