Nigeria records 481 new COVID-19 cases, total now 42,689

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 481 new cases of COVID-19 in the country.

The 481 new cases have brought the nation’s confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection to 42,689.

The NCDC made this known via its verified Twitter handle on Thursday.

“481 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; FCT-96 Lagos-89 Plateau-68 Ogun-49 Edo-44 Rivers-43 Oyo-25 Osun-23 Delta-15 Enugu-11 Kano-7 Kaduna-7 Bauchi-2 Bayelsa-1 Yobe-1.

481 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;

FCT-96

Lagos-89

Plateau-68

Ogun-49

Edo-44

Rivers-43

Oyo-25

Osun-23

Delta-15

Enugu-11

Kano-7

Kaduna-7

Bauchi-2

Bayelsa-1

Yobe-1

42,689 confirmed

19,270 discharged

878 deaths

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Nigerians to continue to exercise patience and understanding over the inconveniences created by precautionary measures taken for COVID-19, especially the regulations on places of worship.

In his Sallah message to Muslims on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir celebration, President Buhari said the outbreak of coronavirus has made it difficult for people to gather in places of worship as they are used to, urging worshipers to abide by the guidelines for the safety of their lives, and loved ones.

“The coronavirus has had devastating adverse impacts on our social, economic and spiritual lives.

“The preventive guidelines we have introduced to contain the spread of this deadly disease have unfortunately limited people’s freedom to gather and worship in large numbers in Mosques and Churches.

“Every measure that has been introduced to contain this disease may have its unintended consequences on the daily lives of our people, and I, therefore, call on Muslims and other faithfuls to continue to show more understanding with the government as we take correct steps to protect our people through the social distancing.

“No elected government would intentionally take away its people’s religious freedom by limiting the number of people that will gather in worship centres at the same time.

“The guidelines are dictated by necessity in order to safeguard public health and should, therefore, not be perceived as infringement on people’s right to worship.’’ the President said.