COVID-19 – Nigeria Has More Cases Than Figures Show, Says NMA

The Chairman of the Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association, has said the daily record of COVID-19 cases do not reflect the total number of infected persons in the country. He stressed that many people have not been tested, noting that the figures released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control daily were only based on the number of tests conducted. He therefore called on Nigerians to adhere to the safety protocols as well as present themselves for testing. He said other countries are experiencing the second wave, while what we are experiencing at the moment is influx. We estimated that there would be tougher times in January with high cases and that is what we have been experiencing. In the last few days, we have had over 1,000 cases back to back and that is even based on the number of tests being done. He noted that the cases had continued to rise because of disregard for the safety protocols.

Meanwhile no fewer than 243 persons have been arrested by men of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly violating the COVID-19 protocols in the state on Saturday. It was gathered that the violators were arrested during a raid on Lounge 38, Bode Thomas, Surulere, where 85 suspects were arrested and the Club Victoria’s in Victoria Island, where 152 suspects were also arrested. The raid was led by the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, who also arrested six other persons for violating the curfew imposed on the state by the Federal Government. Odumosu said violation of the COVID-19 protocols had serious implications for other residents, adding that the 243 violators arrested had been charged to court. He stressed that the command was committed to the total enforcement of the protocols, adding that the police, with the support of other security agencies, would arrest anyone who violates the protocols. He called on Lagos residents to support the government in containing the spread of the virus.