• Gov. Lalong tests positive
• NEC calls for compliance to guidelines
Nigeria has officially entered a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This was announced by the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 at a media briefing in Abuja, as the Chairman, BOSS MUSTAPHA, goes into isolation.
This comes as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control confirmed one thousand, one hundred and forty-five new cases in twenty-three states and Abuja.
The number of new cases recorded yesterday is the highest positive Covid-19 tests to be confirmed on a single day since the first case was reported in Nigeria in March.
The Director-General of the NCDC, Doctor CHIKWE IHEKWEAZU, said the current situation demands that people should act more responsibly by observing the Covid-19 guidelines.
The Presidential Task Force has also confirmed that Nigeria is expected to get its first doses of Covid-19 vaccine by January next year.
The PTF Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation was represented at the media briefing, Thursday, December 17, 2020, by the Minister of Aviation, HADI SIRIKA.
On his part; the National Coordinator of the PTF, Doctor SANI ALIYU, said the government would be reviewing steps already taken to reopen the economy in the coming days.
Meanwhile; the National Economic Council has called on Nigerians to follow the Covid-19 guidelines during the coming holiday season.
The NEC observed that the increasing number of new cases of Covid-19 is due to failure by people to follow the health guidelines, which require the wearing of masks, social distancing, and regular hand washing.
The National Economic Council meeting was chaired by Vice President YEMI OSINBAJO, with governors of the thirty-six states or their representatives in attendance.
In another development, Plateau State Governor, SIMON LALONG, is in isolation after testing positive for coronavirus.
Governor LALONG’s positive test was confirmed in a statement by his Director of Press and Publicity, MAKUT MACHAM.
The government spokesman said Governor LALONG took the Covid-19 test together with members of his family, but only his own test came out positive.