BY LEVI JOHNSON
Nigeria Federal Government has announced the postponement of the administration of the second phase of the coronavirus vaccine doses across the states.
Willie Bassey, the Director of Press, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Saturday had said that the administration of the vaccine would commence on Tuesday.
The position of the Federal Government was however changed on Sunday when Bassey said the exercise had been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.
He said: ”Postponement of phase II of national vacation programme,’ reads, “This is to announce the postponement of the national flag-off exercise of phase II vaccination programme earlier scheduled for Tuesday this week due to unforeseen circumstances.
“A new date will be communicated, please.”
No fewer than 53 persons died from COVID-19 complications in Nigeria within two weeks.
This was contained in the weekly epidemiological report published by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on its website on Sunday.
According to the report, 17 deaths were recorded between July 26 and July 31, 2021, while no fewer than 36 people lost their lives between August 1 and August 7, 2021, making a total of 53 deaths within two weeks.
Between August 1 and August 7, no fewer than 3,707 cases were reported with the country recording the highest daily infection of 747 cases on August 4, 2021, the highest daily infection in three months.
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Between July 26 and July 31, the report also revealed that 2,584 cases were recorded, signifying a 43.5 per cent increase in the number of infections within one week.
The centre listed Benue State as one of the states which had not sent reports for 19 weeks.
Further analysis of the report also revealed that 218 patients were discharged over within one week.
155 inbound passengers also tested positive out of the 3,702 who presented themselves for testing in Lagos and Abuja while 207 out of 5,529 outbound passengers tested positive.
In the report, the Director-General of the NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu, described the increase in the number of infections as worrisome.
He said, “While we had recorded cases in two digits in June and previous months, it is however becoming worrisome that we are beginning to witness hundreds of cases from July.
“To arrest the trend, the NCDC has continued to intensify efforts with an emphasis on public awareness to ensure Nigerians, including healthcare workers, take necessary preventive steps to protect themselves. Rapid Response Teams have also been deployed to support states’ responses.
“With the third wave in the early phase, all hands must be on the deck to nip it in the bud.”
The Federal Government has said a meeting of critical stakeholders will hold on Monday (today) to finalise plans on sharing and distribution of the Moderna vaccine doses to states.
