January Will be Tough, Spike in COVID-19 Infections Imminent– NCDC
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has said that the nation’ s health system is struggling to cope with the increasing number of coronavirus infections daily .
The centre warned that the nation would pay in January for disregarding the health protocols.
Speaking at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 on Tuesday , the Director – General , NCDC , Dr Chikwe Iheakwazu said , “ We just faced the worst week since we started responding to this outbreak . We had more cases in Nigeria last week than in any other previous week since the beginning of the outbreak .
“ Pictures and videos from across the country paint a very disheartening situation because it appears that our messages , our appeals to Nigerians over the last few months have not been heeded and we have gone ahead with business as usual .
“ Events centres are full , social activities are full and so it is no surprises that cases are rising .
“ January will be a tough month , no doubt about it. So , we have to brace ourselves for the consequences of the activities that we have decided to carry out in December . ”
FG blames states for low testing , threatens to suspend passport
The Federal Government on Tuesday expressed disappointment with states , saying despite the resources made available to them, testing for COVID – 19 had been very low .
It also said with effect from January 1 , 2021 , the passports of the first 100 passengers that failed to take their day seven post- arrival PCR test would be published in the national dailies, while the passports , as deterrence , would also be suspended till June 2021 .