Nigeria currently has recorded close to 20,000 Corona Virus infections. This is according to data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control NCDC.

On Saturday, a total 661 new cases of coronavirus infections were confirmed on Saturday, raising the country’s cumulative burden of Covid-19 to 19,808, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control announced.

A total 506 people have died so far from coronavirus in Nigeria, according to data released by NCDC, while another 6,718 people have been discharged from hospital.

In Lagos state, south west Nigeria, some 230 new cases were reported on Saturday, making it the epicenter of the pandemic in Nigeria.

A breakdown from the NCDC shows: Lagos-230 Rivers-127 Delta-83 FCT-60 Oyo-51 Edo-31 Bayelsa-27 Kaduna-25 Plateau-13 Ondo-6 Nasarawa-3 Ekiti-2 Kano-2 Borno-1

Meanwhile, the NCDC has denied claims that it is transporting COVID 19 samples across various states. A claim by the Health Commissioner in Cross River state had earlier suggested that the centre is planning to start to transport samples to various states where testing facilities were available.

There has been concern about coronavirus testing using GeneXpert machines, which are currently used in tuberculosis diagnosis. NCDC says using the machines will “significantly scale up” testing for Covid-19 and improve turn-around time.

“The statements by the Cross River Commissioners of Information and Health are a misinterpretation of the Federal Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 testing strategy and efforts to protect the health of Nigerians from this disease,” the centre said. “We would like to state unequivocally, that there is no plan to transport positive samples from one state to the other.”

Nigeria receives medical supplies from UN, EU

Meanwhile, medical supplies to combat the novel corona virus has been donated by the European as well as the United Nations to Nigeria.

The EU and UN had received delivery of vital supplies to help the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. The shipment, along with others coming soon, are procured through the One UN COVID-19 Basket Fund with a significant contribution from the EU – and will be valued at more than 22 million dollars.

According to a statement by the EU on Saturday, “The current shipment includes, among other items, 545 oxygen concentrators, more than 100,000 test kits, infrared digital no-touch thermometers and numerous Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

“Others are laboratory supplies and emergency health kits that will boost the Nigerian government’s efforts on COVID-19 response and care for those affected by the Coronavirus,’’ it stated. The supplies were handed over to the Government of Nigeria through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and officially presented to the Presidential Task Force (PTF)  on COVID-19.