Rise in COVID-19 cases not unusual – FG

The federal government has said that the recent spike in the COVID-19 cases recorded in the country is not unusual.

The Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, who said this at the 42nd joint national briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, added that the increase in the number of infections reported in the last few weeks was unconnected to the eased lockdown.

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This is as he said that the Federal Government is not abdicating its responsibilities to the citizens on COVID-19 management.

He said this to clarify the FG’s policy of making the state governments take ownership of managing the virus management in their respective states.

“As we have eased the restriction that we have instituted across the country, we have expected the numbers to increase.

“We have announced it several times to expect an increase in numbers.

“So, this increase in numbers is not unusual.

“As we increase testing and relax the lockdown, this is a virus that goes from one individual to the other, therefore, it is most likely that we will see an increase in numbers.

“Whether that increase continues or not depends on our collective action.

“Sometimes, these numbers are necessary to remind us of reality.

“While the number of deaths as a proportion might appear small, these are all people that many of us have gotten to know, and every day, you get to hear about one other friend or relative that, unfortunately, have passed away,” Ihekweazu said.

He added that the health management is on concurrent list in the country and that the federal government will continue to play its roles in the management of COVID-19 in the country, while the states are also to do their parts, especially now that the nation is at the community transmission phase of the virus.