By Zayamu Hassan
The Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) has expressed concern that the Delta variant is causing increase in cases of COVID-19 in the six states of Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Rivers, FCT and Plateau States.
The Chairman of the PSC, Boss Mustapha, who disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja, said the Delta variant has made its way into Nigeria.
He said the PSC is particularly concerned about the situation in Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Rivers, FCT and Plateau States, “as the Delta variant has made way into these states and accounts for the rising cases in these states and across the nation.”
According to him, Lagos state alone accounts for over 50 percent of the number of the recorded cases.
“This development calls for great caution because the virus is very virulent and raging in so many other countries. We must therefore keep observing the NPIs and also ensure that we get vaccinated.
“Vaccination prevents severe cases and reduces hospitalization and deaths but does not eliminate contacting it, hence the need to religiously observe the NPIs. We need to test more and detect early enough so that people who have contacted this virus can be treated early,” Mustapha said.
The PSC Chairman further disclosed that Nigeria now has 143 molecular laboratories, explaining that 54 are private while 89 are publicly owned.
He said that the PSC has concluded plans to publish over 500 travellers who violated the travel protocol and those who evaded quarantine this week and that those who had their passports barred for 6 months will be lifted in the coming days.
