Breaking: COVID-19: Nigeria records second death

Nigerian has recorded its second death resulting from coronavirus.

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, made this known on Monday during the presidential task force briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja.

Former Managing Director of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company, PPMC, Suleiman Achimugu, is the first to die of coronavirus in Nigeria.

He was reported as having an underlying health issue.

Although the minister did not give the name of the person in the second death case, he explained that he also had underlying health issues.

The minister explained the reason for the high number of patients in both Lagos and Abuja.

According to him, Lagos and Abuja were the major entry points into the country by air.

This is as he also explained that most of the patients were those returning from overseas.

Said he:  “Majority of them are persons who came from overseas and the others have been traced as close contacts of such returnees.

“The high number of imported cases in Lagos and Abuja is directly due to their function as the country’s gateway for air travels.

“Till date, three persons have been discharged after successful treatments but sadly, another fatality was recorded over the weekend in the person of a patient who had severe underlying illnesses.”

He spoke about efforts at stemming the spread.

“We have intensified contact-tracing and our strategy remains to promptly detect cases, isolate them and follow up with their contacts and also isolate and treat in order to reduce the spread of the infection.

“The Federal Ministry of Health is working closely with states and the presidential task force on COVID-19 to review response activities and institute measures to protect the health and well being of Nigerians while the NCDC-led multisectoral emergency operation centres continue to coordinate national response activities.

“The NCDC has expanded its capacity by engaging hundreds of ad hoc staff to support various areas of responses including the call centres.

“On the order of the President, all retired but essential and able-bodied staff are to be recalled to service at this crucial period.”

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