The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), says the Delta variant continues to be the coronavirus’s dominant strain in the country.
The Director-General, NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, made this known at the bi-weekly national briefing on COVID-19, on Monday in Abuja.
Adetifa, who was represented by the Head of Risk Communication at the NCDC, Dr Yahaya Disu, said that the Delta variant still overwhelmingly dominates the isolates in the country, with greater than other variants of concern.
The NCDC boss said that countries in Europe have started to reintroduce restrictions and some of the countries had resulted in national demonstrations and unrest
“Cases have risen sharply in Austria, Netherlands, UK, Germany and Italy.
We must note that these are regions with considerably high vaccination rates, however, they are seeing surges in COVID-19, leading to the decision to make vaccinations mandatory (Austria) to counter the opportunity or transmission of the virus which unvaccinated persons pose.
“I mention these to inform you know that COVID-19 is still causing havoc in other countries, and we must not take our situation for granted. Rather, we must continue to use preventive measures, safeguard our health and take responsibility. We can work together as we have done in this long-haul response to COVID-19,”’ he added.
Adetifa encouraged Nigerians to consider receiving the COVID-19 vaccine if they were yet to, noting that it was safe and effective and would reduce the occurrences of severe disease and deaths.
“The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has and continues to lead on the rollout of vaccines. Just last week, we had the national flag-off of the mass vaccination campaign and are ensuring that these safe and effective vaccines which have been successfully received get into the arms of Nigerians.
“There are now strategic vaccination sites around the FCT,” he added.
Adetifa added that the national COVID-19 Emergency Operations Centre continues to meet weekly to coordinate on the response to the ongoing pandemic.
“With regards to genomic surveillance, we have continued to consider the critical need to address the importation of variants and our sequencing efforts are still underway,” he added
He noted that Laboratories were still available for COVID-19 testing while encouraging Nigerians to please get tested if they feel COVID-19 like symptoms.
“Do not assume symptoms may be malaria or a typical cold. We are working to strengthen COVID-19 risk communications using innovative and targeted means by listening to the public and responding effectively.
“The team is currently collectively collaborating on the development of a COVID-19 response sustainability plan and an intra action review to strategise on ways to reinvigorate the response,” he disclosed.
Meanwhile, the Port Health, Public Health Services, (PHS) Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Dr Fatima Muhammed Yusuf, Deputy Director, FMOH, said that PHS had continued to heighten Surveillance at lands, airports and seaports.
“PHS screens all passengers coming into the country at the various Points of Entry and so far, PHS has screened a total of 87,841 persons of interest in September 2021, 74,660 in October 2021 and 8,701 in November.
“PHS also provides traffic data on inbound passengers from all over the world to carry out PHS has continued, Rapid Diagnostic Testing (RDT) at the Seme and Idiroko borders and 15 positive cases were detected out of 1,679 screened with 0.9% positivity rate,” she explained.
Yusuf said that the positive cases recorded at the Ground Crossings have dropped significantly and no positive case had been detected in the past two months.
She added that PHS’ officers were still positioned at the seaports where passengers and Crew of ships were screened before berthing. Noting that Oil company workers were also being screened before going offshore and so far 138 COVID-19 positive cases have been detected in the country’s seaports and offshore platforms.
“The positive cases detected among oil rig workers have also dropped significantly. For the past two weeks, not more than 3 cases have been detected out of how The Nigerian International Travel Portal has transited to a new platform with effect from October 30, 2021.
“There were initial technical hitches which have now been resolved”.
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