NCDC defends COVID-19 testing approach amid criticism

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said Thursday countries had different approaches to testing for COVID-19.

There have been some criticism directed at the NCDC over its comparatively low volume of testing in relation to some other African countries like Ghana and South Africa.

But Ihekweazu, while responding to questions from journalists at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 daily press briefing, said even the most resourced countries were not testing everyone.

He said the agency was not playing a numbers game with counterparts over coronavirus testing.

He said: “Every test involves a risk assessment to make sure it’s appropriate to test the person.

READ ALSO: Over 40 health workers have contracted COVID-19 in Nigeria —Health Minister

“We will continue to ensure we test the right people at the right time.”

He, however, said the agency had a strategy and would keep scaling up the testing for the virus across the country.

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