CoronaVirus Updates
NCDC confirms 193 new cases of COVID-19
…As Governors ask NASS to stop action on infectious diseases bill
BY NICHOLAS ABE
The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Thursday confirmed 193 new cases of coronavirus just as it emerged that the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) had asked the National Assembly to cease further action on the Bill for the Control of Infectious Diseases in Nigeria.
NCDC also announced that three deaths were recorded in the country on Thursday.
No new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours.
Till date, 5,162 cases have been confirmed, 1,180 cases have been discharged and 167 deaths have been recorded in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The 193 new cases were reported as follows: Lagos (58), Kano (46), Jigawa (35), Yobe (12), FCT (9), Ogun (7), Plateau (5), Gombe (5), Imo (4), Edo (3), Kwara (3), Borno (3), Bauchi (1), Nasarawa (1) and Ondo (1).
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The governors, at the 8th COVID-19 teleconference of the forum, expressed discomfort that they were not consulted by the NASS on the Bill despite being at the forefront of efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
At the NGF’s meeting held on Wednesday, the governors raised concern with the lack of consultation with state governments, who are at the forefront of the epidemic.
“The forum resolved that the Bill should be stepped down until an appropriate consultative process is held, including a public hearing to gather public opinion and concerns,” NGF’s spokesman, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo said in a statement.