COVID-19 infections rates in Nigeria appear to be on the rise about two days after the discovery of another variant of the disease in the country.
Nigeria on Friday recorded 186 new cases, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has said.
This is the third day straight infections surpassed 100 across the country since May 31. On Wednesday 110 was recorded while 146 was reported on Thursday.
Public health experts have growing concerns that the so-called Delta coronavirus variant, first identified in India in March, could trigger dramatic rises in cases and deaths in Nigeria.
The NCDC described the new development as worrisome. In an update on its Facebook page Friday night, the centre said Friday’s ok infection figure raised the total number of cases in the country to 168,442.
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Meanwhile, the death toll remains 2, 122 in total as no new fatalities were recorded on Friday.
The new cases on Friday were recorded in three states with Lagos bearing the brunt having recorded 175 out of 186.
Rivers had eight while Gombe recorded three infections.
The NCDC data shows that a total of 164,323 recoveries have been made across the country so far while 1, 897 cases are said to be active.
Nigeria has tested 2, 331, 734 samples for COVID-19 out of the country’s roughly 200 million population.
About Delta Variant
The delta variant has been described by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the ‘most transmissible variant.’
According to the global body, the variant is responsible for the spike in about 98 countries across the world where it has been reported.
Also known as B.1.617.2, the Delta variant has been linked to 90 per cent of the rise in Covid cases in the U.K. and the U.S. It is believed that the variant is somewhat more resistant to Covid vaccines, particularly after just one dose. It may be also associated with a greater risk of hospitalisation.