For the first time since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria’s South-South state, witnessed surge in the pandemic cases between January and February 2021.
So far, Akwa Ibom has recorded 1,501 confirmed cases. Of the figure, 637 persons were admitted, 850 were discharged while 14 persons died as at the end of February 2021, according to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
Figures obtained by Straightnews from the official Twitter handle of NCDC show that of 1,501 recorded by Akwa Ibom, 440 or 29.3 per cent cases were confirmed in January and 630 or 42 per cent in February this year, showing a difference of 190 between the two months.
Overall, the state got 1,070 confirmed cases in January and February this year against 431 it recorded from March to December 2020.
A breakdown shows that the state recorded three cases on January 1; 12 on January 4; 12 on January 5; and 11 on January 8.
Further breakdown shows that NCDC recorded 36 cases on January 9; seven, January 11; 34, January 13; 35, January 14; 27, January 16; 19, 31, 27, 50, 8, 6, 6, 38 and 33 for January 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30, and 31 respectively.
The February’s report shows that 31 was recorded on February 3; 57 on February 4; 85 on February 5 while 39 and 53 were reported on February 7 and 8.
On February 9, NCDC confirmed 38 cases; 42 on February 10; 30 on February 11; and 15 on Feb. 15.
Other reports were 26 cases on February 26 and 17 each; 47 on Feb. 18; 35 on Feb. 19; 25 on Feb. 21; nine on Feb. 23; 10 on Feb. 24; 20 on Feb. 25; 25 on Feb. 26 while the state recorded 17 on Feb. 27.
In a telephone interview with Straightnews Sunday evening, Comrade IUniobong Ememobong, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, attributed COVID-19 surge in the state to what he called ‘’Increased testing and travels.’’
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s COVID-19 cases, Sunday, plummeted to 240, according to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
NCDC tweeted on Sunday ”On the 28th of February 2021, 240 new confirmed cases and 2 deaths were recorded in Nigeria.
A breakdown shows ”The 240 new cases are reported from 13 states- Anambra (85), Lagos (82), Osun (17), Ogun (10), Kwara (9), FCT (8), Kano (7), Abia (6), Ekiti (5), Borno (4), Edo (2), Bayelsa (2) Kaduna (2) and Rivers(1).
”Till date, 155657 cases have been confirmed, 133768 cases have been discharged and 1907 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
”A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC) activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities.
”Our discharges today includes 170 community recoveries in Lagos State managed in line with guidelines.’’
