*NCDC Director-General, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) yesterday stated that not less than 6,649 people have been tested for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic across the nation. The statement also disclosed that of the number, the NCDC tested more male than females.
NCDC Director-General (DG), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, in Abuja yesterday. Iheakweazu said NCDC data revealed that of the 6,649 suspected cases tested for the disease, 71 per cent were males, while females made up just 21 per cent of the total number. He said of the sources of cases, 210 had travel history, 129 were contacts of confirmed cases, 11 infected by unknown sources, while 92 still had incomplete epidemiological information.
He said the agency has continued to respond to the pandemic across the country and had prioritised the distribution of Viral Transport Medium (VTM) to all the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja for sample collection. He also said that the deployment of COVID-19 starter packs to all tertiary institutions and the federal medical centres was in progress. The DG further said the NCDC had fully set up an expanded laboratory network for COVID-19 across the six geopolitical zones, with 13 laboratories activated. He, however, said that the deployment of Rapid Response Team to support response in all states with confirmed case(s) stood at 22.
