The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 459 new infections recorded in Lagos State alone on 17th December 2020, making it the highest daily COVID-19 figure ever recorded since the pandemic first reached Nigeria.
It is not known yet whether this figure is a result of accumulated previously unrecorded cases just recognised or from a single day’s testing.
Whatever is the case, it is indeed alarming, even as the prospect of a second wave of the pandemic in Lagos had earlier been announced.
Even without evincing a proper reason for the spike in Lagos, such public health protocols as wearing masks, practising social distancing, washing of hands, and avoiding crowded enclosures had generally been ignored, which could be a possible reason for the increase in infections.
The NCDC announced that the total cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases in Lagos was now 25,895, of which 23,812 have been discharged with 1,850 active cases. The state has recorded 233 COVID-19-related deaths so far.
Over 200,000 persons have been tested for COVID-19.
Nationwide, 76,207 COVID-19 cases have been recorded, 67,110 of which have been discharged.
1,201 COVID-19-related deaths have been recorded.
Just recently, the Lagos State COVID-19 Chief Incident Commander, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, himself, tested positive for COVID-19 and has since been accessing palliative care.
It is expected that the proper public health protocols will be reinforced in order to stem the rising trend of the virus.
