The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), on Monday night, confirmed 229 new cases of coronavirus in the country, bringing the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nigeria to 8068.
The NCDC made this known via its official Twitter handle. It also said that 90 of the new infections were recorded in Lagos.
According to NCDC, 27 cases were recorded in Katsina State, 26 in Imo State, 23 in Kano and 14 in the Federal Capital Territory.
“On the 24th of May 2020, 313 new confirmed cases and 5 deaths were recorded in Nigeria. No new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours.
“Till date, 7839 cases have been confirmed, 2263 cases have been discharged and 226 deaths have been recorded in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“The 313 new cases are reported from 17 states; 229 new cases of #COVID19; Lagos-90, Katsina-27, Imo-26, Kano-23, FCT-14, Plateau-12. Ogun-9, Delta-7, Borno-5, Rivers-5, Oyo-4, Gombe-3, Osun-2, Anambra-1, Bayelsa-1.”
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday suspended the use of hydroxychloroquine in solidarity trial for the treatment of COVID-19, over safety concerns.
KAFTAN Post reports that WHO’s decision to temporarily halt the use of the drug came as a result of a report published by Lancet, which indicated that more people are dying from the use of the drug to combat COVID-19.
The WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who made this known in an online briefing said: “As you know, more than two months ago we initiated the Solidarity Trial, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of four drugs and drug combinations against COVID-19.
“On Friday, the Lancet published an observational study on hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine and its effects on COVID-19 patients that have been hospitalised.
“The authors reported that among patients receiving the drug, when used alone or with a macrolide, they estimated a higher mortality rate.
“The Executive Group of the Solidarity Trial, representing 10 of the participating countries, met on Saturday and has agreed to review a comprehensive analysis and critical appraisal of all evidence available globally.
It would be recalled that five states in Nigeria – Lagos, FCT, Ogun, Kaduna, Sokoto and Kano, have shown willingness to participate in the WHO’s solidarity trial to help find an effective treatment for Coronavirus.
The clinical trial which is an international clinical trial, is part of the WHO efforts to develop effective treatment regimen and vaccines to combat COVID-19 in the shortest possible.
While several trials are being conducted globally to ascertain its effectiveness in treating COVID-19, till date, none of them has proven effective.
