COVID-19: NCDC says it has traced over 70% of persons of interest

NCDC has said that the number of persons being trailed over COVID-19 was now 5000.

Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), stated this on Wednesday during a briefing by PTFonCovid19.

It said that of the 5000 persons, that over 70 per cent had been traced using a digital dashboard in the emergency operation centre of Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

“Over 70% of the persons of interest which are over 5,000 have been traced using a digital dashboard in the emergency operation centre,” he said.

The NCDC DG also said that the website, http://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng of the centre was now very effective and works well with mobile phones and computers.

He said “anyone can go to the website and pick materials for reproduction as long as the message stays the same.”

Speaking during the briefing, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, giving update said 151 persons were currently infected in Nigeria, adding that nine persons have been treated and discharged while two people had died.

“Those infected with #COVID19 ranges between the ages of 30-69 though he reiterated that everyone is at risk. Everyone is advised to stay home saying it’s the safest place.

“A team will now be deployed on major roads to monitor the health of those permitted to travel on such roads.

“Two more labs have been added to the @NCDCgov networks of laboratories. One in Ibadan, Oyo State and the other in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State making it a total of 7 laboratories in Ibadan,” he said.

The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said at the event that the Task Force was doing a lot to get the message on #Covid19 across to Nigerians using mass media in six major languages.

“Efforts have been made to harmonize all messages being sent on all handles in the State House and the Ministry of Information,” he said.

Mohammed described as false news the alleged report that N30, 000 was to be paid to all Nigerians with BVN and the story of some Americans who allegedly came into the country without being tested.

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He also said that the task force had not received any cash as regards donation. “We have only received donations in kind, from the Jack Ma foundation and others.

Earlier, the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha complained about some agency abusing the exemption to the lockdown order on major highways.

He reiterated that when an agency of government is exempted, it only exempts essential staff of such organisation. He noted that more information on who should be exempted would be published in the newspaper.

He also announced that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the release of 70 million metric tonnes of grains from the National Grain Reserve.

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