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Tag: NCDC

  • COVID-19: Not compulsory all States must be affected – Cross River Govt

    COVID-19: Not compulsory all States must be affected – Cross River Govt

    The Cross River State Government has noted that the State was more interested in the prevention of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) than its management, stressing that it is not compulsory that all States must be affected.

    Dr Betta Edu, the State Commissioner for Health and Chairman, COVID-19 taskforce team, made this known on Wednesday in Calabar, while appealing to the Federal Government to assist it with funds and test kits in containing the Coronavirus spread.

    Edu also appealed to the federal government to set up a vaccine producing factory in the state.

    She said that Cross River was among the three states in the country without the virus.

    She said that the Nigeria Centre for Disease control (NSDC) had sent only 50 test kits which was not enough for the state with over 4.5million population.

    According to her, with the release of funds and more test kits, samples will be taken across the state to Irrua in Benin for laboratory testing.

    She called on the federal government to send more security personnel to police the borders against Cameroonian coming into the state.

    The commissioner said that the NCDC staff that are expected in the state to commence collection of samples would be quarantined for 14 days.

    She noted that the state was more interested in the prevention of the virus than its management.

    “As a state, we have shut down borders and all land entrances to prevent the spread of the virus. It is not compulsory that all states will be affected.

    “The state government is doing all it can to ensure that it remains COVID-19 free. The no mask, nomovement policy had helped alot in achieving the fight against the pandemic,” she said.

    The commissioner warned those trespassing through various routes into the state to desist from the act, adding that “the virus does not move, people move with the virus”.

    She said that they were interested in testing any suspected case of COVID-19 that meets the NCDC requirements.

    She further said that health surveillance staff at the border areas have been advised to focus more on persons with symptoms.

    “We dont need a ventilator at this moment, what we want is test kits to help get more samples for laboratory analysis,” she said.

  • HIGHEST SINGLE DAY RECORD: Nigeria announces 195 new Covid-19 cases, Lagos, Kano top list

    HIGHEST SINGLE DAY RECORD: Nigeria announces 195 new Covid-19 cases, Lagos, Kano top list

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 195 cases of coronavirus in Nigeria on Tuesday taking the new total to 1532.

    The centre for disease control also announced no new discharge or death.

    “195 new cases of COVID-19 reported; 80-Lagos, 38-Kano, 15-Ogun, 15-Bauchi, 11-Borno, 10-Gombe, 9-Sokoto, 5-Edo, 5-Jigawa, 2-Zamfara, 1-Rivers, 1-Enugu, 1-Delta, 1-FCT and 1-Nasarawa.

    “As at 11:50pm 28th April- 1532 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Nigeria. With 255 discharged and 44 deaths.

    Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari is continuing with the partial lift of lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and FCT.

    On Tuesday, the Presidency said in the light of the presidential directive, during the nationwide broadcast on Monday, it is essential that attention be drawn to the reported large number of food trucks that are being delayed at various checkpoints around the country or prevented from crossing state borders, as a result of the various curfews and lockdowns in different states.

    “The restrictions of movement as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic do not apply to vehicles transporting essential goods such as food.

    “The country cannot afford a situation where agricultural products are being left to rot in trucks held at various checkpoints, when millions of Nigerians across the country need food. COVID-19 or no COVID-19, Nigerians need to eat.

    “Other essential items that can be transported despite the ban on movement as prescribed by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) include: pharmaceutical and sanitary supplies, personal care items, agro chemicals and agricultural machinery, electrical products and electronics, oil and gas, courier services, health supplies and protective garments.

    “Vehicles transporting essential items must not convey any commercial passengers. In addition, the occupants must not exceed three, i.e. the driver, spare driver, and conductor.

    “The drivers must have basic protective and sanitary items, including: face masks, hand sanitisers, and tissue paper to and from their destinations. Once these conditions are satisfied, they must be allowed to travel freely to and from any part of Nigeria”.

  • BREAKING: Nigeria introduces new COVID-19 testing system

    BREAKING: Nigeria introduces new COVID-19 testing system

    Nigeria has introduced the use of the COBAS system at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) National Reference Laboratory for Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the NCDC made this known on Tuesday, stressing that using this new system, approximately 960 samples can be tested in 8 hours.

    According to the NCDC, this begins the second prong of the national strategy to integrate laboratory systems and increase testing capacity for COVID-19 in the country, leveraging capacity within the high-throughput HIV Molecular Testing Laboratories in the country.

    “There are about 37 molecular laboratory equipment platforms currently deployed and in use within the PEPFAR-supported National PCR Network for HIV viral load and Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) testing.

    “These include 6 Mega-PCR labs with very-high throughput machines which can be leveraged to expand COVID-19 testing. In response to global demand for rapid testing, Roche and Abbot technologies have developed and validated the SARS-CoV2 assay on the Corbas 6800/8800 and the M2000 platforms respectively.

    “These kits have received the U.S. Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the use of these platforms for SARS COV2 testing’. These Mega-PCR laboratories have a combined minimum testing capacity of 7,000 tests per day, about half of which will be dedicated to COVID-19 testing.

    “This will enable the bulk testing of COVID-19 suspected cases to be implemented in Abuja and Lagos using Roche Cobas 6800/8800; as well as Benue, Akwa Ibom and Anambra, using Abbott M2000.

    “Implementation of the test will increase the national output by at least additional 3500 tests per day. It is proposed that one instrument in each of the laboratories will be dedicated exclusively to COVID-19 testing,” NCDC stated in a release.

  • BREAKING: Nasarawa records first COVID-19 case

    BREAKING: Nasarawa records first COVID-19 case

    Nasarawa state has recorded its first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

    Governor Abdullahi Sule confirmed the development while briefing newsmen in Lafia on Tuesday.

    Sule said the patient is a 25-year-old lady who recently travelled from Kano state to Kokona local government area of the state.

    The governor said samples were recently taken from five person for testing at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) designated laboratory, the results came back on Monday, April 27, with four coming out negative, while one was positive.

    “Four out of the five, including the lady that was said to have ran away from Abuja and isolated in Akwanga, their results came out yesterday and were negative.

    “However, we are not that lucky with the fifth case. It is sad for me to announce that Nasarawa State has its first case of COVID-19,” he said.

    Sule added that the lady has been evacuated from Kokona to an Isolation Centre in Lafia where there are better facilities to manage her case.

    He explained the that family members of the patient have been quarantined and would be tested to ascertain their status.

    He, however, decried the attitude of people towards health personnel working to contain the virus.

    The governor recalled that efforts by health personnel to get sample of the confirmed case was initially resisted by family member, who hid the lady.

    “I want to use this opportunity to encourage our people, especially the traders that continue to travel to some of these high risk places like Lagos and Kano to desist as they could be doing more harm to their family than even the state.

    “So I encourage our people to bear with the government against all these travels at this moment especially to areas of high risk,” he said.

    He also encouraged residents to quickly embrace testing if they noticed any symptoms, adding that “COVID-19 is not a death sentence.”

    The governor, therefore, urged the people of the state to continue to adhere to all safety directives, especially physical distancing and maintaining personal hygiene.

  • COVID-19: NCDC announces 2 more Molecular laboratories

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced the inclusion of two more laboratories into the country’s COVID-19 pandemic molecular network.

    Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, NCDC Director-General, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja, that this brought the total number of molecular laboratories in the network to 17.

    Ihekweazu, giving an update on the laboratory, said that the agency was working closely with more private laboratories to expand testing capacity in Nigeria.

    NAN reports that on March 27, the NCDC announced via its Twitter handle that this is part of the laboratory strategy developed.

    The NCDC director-general said that two private laboratories were now on board- the DNA laboratory in Kaduna and the 54 Gene laboratory in Lagos and Ogun- all private sector laboratories.

    According to him, the 54 Gene will be the first to launch the first mobile COVID-19 testing laboratory in Ogun using a 40ft container.

    Ihekweazu said that all these were aimed at scaling up testing across the country for mobility, speed and access in order to win the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

    He said that the country now has the capacity to do a minimum of over three thousands tests daily.

    ”However, a critical challenge remains sample collection and transportation to the relevant laboratories, which is still a work in progress,” he said.

    Iheakweazu further said that the agency had carried out about 12,004 tests across the country and was working hard to improve the numbers.

    He expressed gratitude to the people who responded to the agency’s call for extraction kits on April 26.

    The director-general said the measure was taken to ensure that the country maintained its testing capacity.

    ”The new testing technology, using the ROCHE COBAS system does not require extraction kits which are in high demand and low supply around the world.

    “Therefore, the agency is focussed on working with its partners to quickly activate the use of this technology,” he said.

    On test kits developed in Senegal, Iheakweazu said that the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) was coordinating and providing guidance to all countries on accessing the kits.

    “Currently, the kits have not been manufactured for wide use, but NCDC will explore the opportunity base on regulatory approvals, validation and other guidance,” he explained.

    NAN reports that NCDC has fully set up expanded laboratory network for COVID-19 across the six geopolitical zones, as 13 laboratories had been activated.

  • Why I said Nigeria desperately looking for extraction kits – NCDC D-G

    Why I said Nigeria desperately looking for extraction kits – NCDC D-G

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has explained why it tweeted: ’Nigeria desperately looking for extraction kits’.

    Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director-General of NCDC, said on Monday that he made the request to prevent shutting down of a network of 15 laboratories currently testing for COVID-19 in Nigeria.

    Ikekweazu made the explanation at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.

    Ihekweazu wrote: ”We’re desperately looking for more RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) extraction kits as we expand COVID-19 testing.

    “Product: Total viral RNA extraction kits (preferably spin column with a lysis buffer). Manufacturers: Qiagen, ThermoFischer, SeeGene, Inqaba, LifeRiver etc.”

    Following the tweet, Nigerians criticised the NCDC boss on social media, claiming he publicly requested for COVID-19 test kits after saying that the country had enough resources to fight the virus.

    ”On my tweet on Sunday, I asked for something called extraction kits. These are not the same as test kits.

    “We have a supply chain of all the commodities but there are supply chain challenges in things coming into the country now.

    ”This is the consequence of the situation we are in now and the global demands for the same thing.

    “These are things that we had ordered for and they are in process of coming in but we suddenly ran out.

    “Rather than shut down a network of 15 laboratories in the country, I put out that tweet, ” he said.

    He said that although he received criticisms from the public, the purpose was achieved.

    He said that some people donated the extraction kits free.

    ”While we got a lot of criticism which I expected, people came and solved that problem.

    ”People brought the extraction kits and some of them offered to give to us for free.

    “This country will continue to surprise us by its spirit, by its people and by its ingenuity in terms of how to solve that problem, ” he said.

  • NCDC DG commends Nigerians for reaching out to solve shortage of COVID-19 kits

    NCDC DG commends Nigerians for reaching out to solve shortage of COVID-19 kits

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has commended Nigerians for reaching out to solve the shortage of the Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) extraction kits.

    Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director General of NCDC gave the commendation on Monday on his verified Twitter handle.

    Ihekweazu had on Sunday tweeted: ”We’re desperately looking for more RNA extraction kits as we expand #COVID19 testing.

    ”Product: Total viral RNA extraction kits (preferably spin column and with a lysis buffer). Manufacturers: Qiagen, ThermoFischer, SeeGene, Inqaba, LifeRiver etc.”

    RNA is a polymeric molecule essential in various biological roles in coding, decoding, regulation and expression of genes.

    On Monday, Ihekweazu tweeted: ”very grateful to everyone who reached out to solve this challenge with us. Our support to each other, even when done quietly, will enable us pull through. One day, we will tell the story of this response in full. For now, we keep pushing”.

    As at April 26, 2020, 91 new confirmed cases and five new deaths were recorded in Nigeria.

    Four new states (Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Kebbi and Taraba) have reported confirmed cases in the last 24 hours.

    Till date, 1273 cases have been confirmed, 239 cases have been discharged and 40 deaths have been recorded in 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

    The 91 new cases are reported from sixteen states- Lagos (43), Sokoto (8), Taraba (6), Kaduna(5), Gombe (5), Ondo (3), FCT (3), Edo (3), Oyo (3), Rivers (3), Bauchi (3), Osun (2), Akwa Ibom (1), Bayelsa (1), Ebonyi (1), Kebbi (1).

    A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level three, continues to coordinate the national response activities.

  • BREAKING: COVID-19 enters 4 new States, as cases rise above 1200 in Nigeria

    BREAKING: COVID-19 enters 4 new States, as cases rise above 1200 in Nigeria

    The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been reported for four new States in Nigeria as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed 91 new cases on Sunday.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the four new States are Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Kebbi and Taraba, bringing the total number of States in the country having COVID-19 to 32 and the federal capital territory (FCT), Abuja.

    On Sunday night, the NCDC announced 92 new confirmed cases, revealing five new deaths were recorded in the country.

    Till date, 1273 cases have been confirmed, 239 cases have been discharged and 40 deaths have been recorded in 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

    The 91 new cases are reported from sixteen States- Lagos (43), Sokoto (8), Taraba (6), Gombe (5), Ondo (3), FCT (3), Edo (3), Oyo (3), Rivers (3), Bauchi (3), Osun (2), Akwa Ibom (1), Bayelsa (1), Ebonyi (1), Kebbi (1).

    “A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities,” the NCDC stated.

    The States yet to report any case of COVID-19 are Cross River, Nasarawa, Yobe and Kogi.

  • COVID-19: Nigeria desperately needs RNA extraction kits, NCDC DG cries out

    COVID-19: Nigeria desperately needs RNA extraction kits, NCDC DG cries out

    Director General (DG) of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu has posted on his official Twitter handle that Nigeria desperately needs more Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) extraction kits.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Dr Ihekweazu posted the tweet on Sunday as Nigeria’s confirmed cases of COVID-19 continue to shoot beyond the roof on a daily basis.

    The extraction kit is part of the recommended diagnostic protocols published by WHO. However, the kits are currently in high demand across the world but in short supply.

    Iheakweazu stated that the product it was looking for was a Total viral RNA extraction kits “preferably spin column and with a lysis buffer”

    The DG said that the manufacturers should be; Qiagen, ThermoFischer, SeeGene, Inqaba, LifeRiver etc.

    He added that for anyone with the above product and manufacturer should reach the agency on; ncdclabnetwork@ncdc.gov.ng.

    “We’re desperately looking for more RNA extraction kits as we expand #COVID19 testing. Product: Total viral RNA extraction kits (preferably spin column and with a lysis buffer). Manufacturers: Qiagen, ThermoFischer, SeeGene, Inqaba, LifeRiver etc,” Dr Ihekweazu tweeted.

    It would be recalled that the NCDC announced the inclusion of two new laboratories in the national COVID-19 molecular laboratory network.

    The two are in Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State.

    NCDC said that the inclusion of the two new laboratories brings to 15, the number of laboratories with the capacity to test for COVID-19.

    It said that the country now had the capacity to do a minimum of 3000 tests daily.

    However, the critical challenge remains sample collection and transportation to the relevant laboratories.

    The NCDC says it is working closely with states to strengthen capacity for sample collection and transportation.

  • Plateau: COVID-19 breach at Vom annoys government

    The Plateau government is investigating the circumstances surrounding the leak of the confidential laboratory result of some suspected COVID-19 cases carried out at the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Testing Centre in Vom.

    The commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Dan Manjang, stated this in a press release issued on Sunday in Jos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Thursday, 23rd April, the result of a suspected person with COVID-19, which tested positive, was circulating in different platforms of the social media.

    This went on before the official announcement by the National Centre for Disease Control and the Plateau govt.

    The patient, who is the first state index case, came into Jos from Kano on April 17.

    The commissioner said government was disappointed over such unprofessional act, which had breached ethical medical standards and exposed the suspected case to negative consequences, including stigmatization and discrimination.

    He said the State Government totally condemned the act, which “regrettably has the tendency of jeopardising its efforts in fighting the coronavirus pandemic that is ravaging the world.

    Manjang said that the state was conducting investigations to unravel those responsible for the unethical act with a view of punishing them to forestall future occurrence.

    He said the investigation would cover the entire process of the test, from sample collection, investigation and result dissemination.

    The commissioner assured members of the public not to be deterred by the incident as all measures had been taken to ensure that such incident did not occur again.

    Meanwhile, the acting Director of NVRI, Dr Rueben Ocholi, has reacted to the development in a statement issued on NVRI official website http://www.nvri.gov.ng on Saturday, April 25.

    Ocholi stated that the Institute was highly professional and had consistently provided high quality diagnostic and research data for many years without a case of breach of ethics.

    He explained that NVRI adhered to the established system of communication of COVID-19 diagnostic results developed by the NCDC.

    Ocholi, however, called on all stakeholders involved in managing COVID-19 case information for Plateau State to quickly investigate the breach.