Jarring 338 new cases spike COVID-19 total to 5,959 with fresh 177 in Lagos and 64 in Kano, as Buhari wrings hands on reopening the economy

Nigeria has recorded 338 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the country to 5,959.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Sunday announced 338 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the country to 5,959.

Data obtained from the NCDC showed that while there are 4,183 active cases of COVID-19 in the country, 1,594 cases have been discharged with 182 deaths recorded.

The health agency said, “On the 17th of May 2020, 338 new confirmed cases and 6 deaths were recorded in Nigeria.

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

“The 338 new cases are reported from 18 states- Lagos(177), Kano(64), FCT(21), Rivers(16), Plateau(14), Oyo(11), Katsina(9), Jigawa(4), Kaduna(4), Abia(3), Bauchi(3), Borno(3),Gombe(2), Akwa Ibom(2), Delta(2), Ondo(1), Kebbi(1), Sokoto(1).”

A further breakdown of the data showed that 122 COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged across the country on Sunday.

It also showed that 26 per cent of infected persons have recovered from the virus in Nigeria while three per cent died.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari may announce new procedure on the reopening of the country’s economy and for the containment of COVID-19 in Nigeria on Monday.

The President, who is billed to address the nation later today had on Sunday received briefing and recommendations from the Presidential Task Force (PTF) led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

At the meeting, Boss Mustapha, said the coronavirus pandemic will remain in the country in the next two months as there was yet no confirmed vaccine to tackle it.