Nigeria records 143 new COVID-19 cases, total now 54,008

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has confirmed 143 new cases of COVID-19 in the country, as confirmed cases are now 54,008.

The NCDC made this known via its verified Twitter handle @NCDCgov on Monday.

“143 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; Plateau-35 Kaduna-21 Lagos-19 FCT-13 Ebonyi-9 Adamawa-7 Enugu-7 Katsina-7 Edo-6 Kwara-5 Osun-3 Anambra-2 Kano-2 Niger-2 Ogun-2 Benue-1 Borno-1 Sokoto-1.”

143 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;

Plateau-35

Kaduna-21

Lagos-19

FCT-13

Ebonyi-9

Adamawa-7

Enugu-7

Katsina-7

Edo-6

Kwara-5

Osun-3

Anambra-2

Kano-2

Niger-2

Ogun-2

Benue-1

Borno-1

Sokoto-1

54,008 confirmed

41,638 discharged

1,013 deaths

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has emphasised the need for effective COVID-19 prevention plans as countries reopen their economies and borders.

Its Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, gave the advice during a news briefing from Geneva on Monday.

Ghebreyesus said he had observed the eagerness of countries to “get their economies going again”, eight months into the coronavirus pandemic.

According to him, if countries are serious about opening, they must prioritise suppression of transmission and safety of lives.

He warned that opening up without efficient and effective prevention measures in place was “a recipe for disaster”.

Ghebreyesus said this might seem an impossible balance, but it could be done if countries were in control of transmission.

“The more control they have, the more they can open. The reality is that coronavirus spreads easily.

“It can be fatal for people of all ages and most people remain susceptible.

“To control transmission, it is essential to prevent events that lead to outbreaks,” he said.