Nigeria rules out another COVID-19 lockdown amid rising cases

The Federal Government on Thursday said it was not considering a lockdown despite rising cases of COVID-19 infections across the country.

Speaking at the weekly ministerial briefing organized at the State House in Abuja, Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said the number of cases were not threatening enough, yet, for a lockdown to be considered.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, on Wednesday Nigeria had recorded 790 cases of new COVID-19 infections.

The figure was the highest in about six months.

A recent surge in infections has been partly attributed to the Delta variant, which is believed to be more contagious and deadlier.

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The second phase of the national vaccination programme is expected to kick off next Monday.

Also, the Minister, Dr Ehanire said on Thursday that Nigeria is not only relying on donated vaccines from other entities.

The countries have benefitted from vaccines donated by COVAX and the US.

According to Ehanire, Nigeria has procured nearly 40 million doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine through the African Union.

He also assured those who have taken the first shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine of the availability of second doses by the end of August when 3.9 million doses of the vaccine type is expected to arrive the country.

Meanwhile the Federal Government has launched a strategy for the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine in a phased and equitable manner.

The strategy code-named: ”T• E• A• C• H” was initiated by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health(FMOH).