PTF says Kano deaths caused by COVID-19, NCDC confirms 170 new infections

Yusuf Bello| The national coordinator of the presidential task force on COVID-19, Sani Gwarzo on Sunday related the mass deaths in Kano to COVID-19 complications.

Gwarzo made the disclosure at the official presentation and handing over of the mobile testing laboratory the Aliko Dangote Foundation donated to Kano government.

Kano has recorded an increase in unexplained deaths since it recorded its first coronavirus case in April, a development that compelled the NCDC in agreement with the state government to perform verbal autopsy to ascertain the cause of death.

According to Gwarzo, who also lost his father during the period, investigation had shown that COVID-19 is responsible for some of the deaths.

He said, “Let me inform us that most of the deaths recorded of recent and test carried out showed that coronavirus was the cause.”

“So, before the final report which would be ready in the next one week or few days, it is necessary for people of Kano to wake up from their slumber that this is a serious issue.

“We need to know what is happening we are successful in identifying what the problems are and secondly we are happy on the level of cooperation the private sector and other stake holders. Many people have come out to support the state we cannot expand our investigation until we are certain.

“We have five cogent reasons to say that the mass death recorded in Kano is associated with coronavirus.”

He listed them as the age of the deceased persons, concentration of the people in one place and “test we have constructed which have element of COVID-19”.

-NCDC confirms 170 new infections

Also on Sunday, Nigeria confirmed 170 new coronavirus cases bringing the county’s toll 2558.

The Nigeria Centre for disease Control made the disclosure via its Twitter handle@NCDCgov.

Accordig to the health agency, the new infections were recorded in Lagos, Kano, Ogun, Bauchi, Kaduna, FCT, Sokoto, Katsina,Bornu, Nasarawa, Adamawaand Oyo.

The agency further stated that as at Sunday night, the country recorded 2558 confirmed cases of the virus, with 87 deaths and 400 persons discharged.

The tweet read, ”170 new cases of #COVID19;

39-Lagos
29-Kano
24-Ogun
18-Bauchi
15-Kaduna
12-FCT
12-Sokoto
8-Katsina
7-Borno
3-Nasarawa
2-Adamawa
1-Oyo

2558 confirmed cases of #COVID19 in Nigeria.”
Discharged: 400
Deaths: 87