Chidi Samuel| Nigeria on Tuesday confirmed 624 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the country’s virus burden to 41,804.
In a statement via its verified Twitter handle on Tuesday night tweet, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said that eight more persons died from the virus on the same day bringing the total death toll to 868 and 18,764 recoveries.
According to the health agency, Lagos, the epicentre of the pandemic in Nigeria, reported 212 new cases, followed by Oyo with 69, Niger 49, Kano 37, FCT 35, and Plateau 34.
Other states with new cases include, Gombe 33, Edo 28, Enugu 28, Ebonyi(17, Delta 10, Katsina 9, Ogun 8, Rivers 7, Ondo 5, Kaduna 4 and Nasarawa 2.
According to AFP tally, the novel coronavirus has killed at least 654,477 people worldwide since the outbreak emerged in China last December, as at Tuesday.
Not less than 16,514,500 cases of coronavirus have been registered in 196 countries and territories. Of these, at least 9,347,300 are now considered recovered.
The tallies, using data collected by AFP from national authorities and information from the World Health Organization (WHO), probably reflect only a fraction of the actual number of infections.
-Nigerian doctors reject claim of US colleague on COVID-19 cure
Meanwhile, the Guild of Medical Doctors, a body of private medical practitioners in Nigeria, on Tuesday said all claims made by Stella Immanuel should be taken with reservation.
Immanuel, a Nigerian-trained doctor based in the United States, had claimed she treated over 350 COVID-19 patients with hydroxychloroquine.
She also said there is no need for people to wear face masks as a measure to prevent COVID-19.
But in a statement, Olufemi Babalola, president, Guild of Medical Doctors, urged the public to be aware that Immanuel’s claim is not backed by scientific evidence.
Babalola said while studies have subjected the drug to intense research, some suggest that it is effective while others dismissed its efficacy.
According to him, a study is underway at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) to test the efficacy of the drug in treating COVID-19 patients.
Babalola sid, “We have watched with dismay the viral video of Dr. Stella Immanuel, a doctor in the United States of America. The video has been shared all over the country and led to many people justifiably asking the question, What do you think, doctor?”.
“Dr. Stella Immanuel strongly attests to treating over 350 patients in her clinic in Houston, Texas, with the combination of Hydrochloroquine (HCQ), Zinc and Zithromax. However, people must understand that this is not scientific evidence and just her own personal, unsubstantiated claims.
“The important point, of course, is to note that medical research has subjected HCQ to intense research. While some studies suggest that it is effective, others have come to the opposite conclusion. It is also true that Senegal, where HCQ is routinely used, has one of the lowest Covid-19 case fatality rates in the world at 0.64% compared to 3.4% in the USA.
“As we speak, a study is underway in LUTH on its efficacy and safety. Subsequently, a meta-analysis of all these studies should be undertaken to pool all the results and come up with a summative analysis which will guide clinicians.
“Until then, all anecdotal claims such as the one from Dr. Stella Immanuel must be taken with a pinch of salt. It should also be noted that HCQ may be a cause of serious complications and even death in some people. Other anecdotal claims such as the herbal mixture from Madagascar have subsequently been proven ineffective.”
The guild urged Nigerians to be conscious of the fact that COVID-19 is real and that the disease is “an indiscriminate killer”.
“We know from personal experience since it has killed many doctors and nurses all over the country, including our very own Professor Lovett Lawson.”
“This disease is definitely not a joke and we strongly condemn the politicization of the disease and the treatments currently being used to fight the pandemic.
“As at today, the whole world is still actively looking for effective treatment and of course, a vaccine. Until then, everyone has a responsibility to remain safe and protect one another through the ways proven to help,” the statement concluded.
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