Decline In COVID-19 Cases: 'Do Not Celebrate Yet' - NCDC DG

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has said that it allocated N1 billion to 32 states in the country, while the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu, said that Nigerians should not 'celebrate' a drop in COVID-19 cases.

This was disclosed by the Coordinator of the PTF, Sani Aliyu, on Monday in Abuja, stating that the money was to support the states' fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Aliyu said, “We have released money to the state governments recently, to 32 state governments. Each state government was given a billion naira.

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“This is for the purpose of driving their COVID responses and we are asking them to prioritise testing in addition to surveillance activities linked to COVID-19.”

Celebrate Declining Cases

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu, said that the country was continuously recording low coronavirus cases.

He said this in Abuja, stating that the country recorded a 36 percent decline in coronavirus cases in the month of August.

Although, he said that this should not be a reason to celebrate, until "we test sufficient figures in every state."

Ihekweazu said, “The number of reported cases daily has declined nationally in the last few weeks. We have seen a 36 per cent decline in August compared to July on national figures.

“Unfortunately, we cannot celebrate this until we test sufficient figures in every state."