681 new COVID-19 cases tally up to 14,554 in exponential worsening of pandemic in Nigeria

Nigeria recorded its highest daily toll on Thursday with 681 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in 17 states.

Lagos alone accounted for over 50 percent of the total figure with 345 new cases.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced the latest figures a few minutes before midnight on Thursday.

A total of 14,554 COVID-19 infections have now been confirmed in 35 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

The number of discharged patients rose from 4,351 to 4,494, while five new deaths were recorded, increasing the country’s total fatality figure from 382 to 387.

The NCDC stated, “On the 10th of June 2020, 409 new confirmed cases and 17 deaths were recorded in Nigeria.

“No new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours.

“Till date, 13,873 cases have been confirmed, 4,351 cases have been discharged and 382 deaths have been recorded in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

“The 409 new cases are reported from 16 states- Lagos (201), FCT (85), Delta (22), Edo (16), Nasarawa (14), Borno (14), Kaduna (14), Bauchi (10), Rivers (9), Enugu (5), Kano (5), Ogun (4), Ondo (4), Baylesa (2), Kebbi (2), Plateau (2).”

Meanwhile, in his address at the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 briefing on Thursday, Chikwe Ihekweazu, director-general of the NCDC, said the upward surge was not unexpected considering the lockdown relaxation.

He, however, added that Nigerians need to take responsibility, especially by adhering to the guidelines on containing the spread of the virus.

“As we have eased the restrictions that we instituted across the country, and as states ease those restrictions, we have expected the numbers to increase and we have announced severally to expect an increase in numbers,” he said.

“So this increase in numbers is not unusual. There are always a few weeks’ lag and as we increase testing and ease the lockdown, this is a virus that goes from one individual to the other. Therefore, it is most likely that we will see an increase in numbers.

“Whether that increase continues or not depends on our collective action like we’ve always said, and sometimes these numbers are necessary to remind us of that reality.”

See the detailed record of confirmed cases below:

Confirmed Cases by State