Nigeria now has three epicentres of the Coronavirus Disease: Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; and Lagos and Kaduna States.
The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, made this known in Abuja on Monday when he briefed newsmen alongside other members of the PTF.
Mustapha said whereas the testing rate went up by 85 per cent in Abuja, the rate of infection increased by 285 per cent.
He said: “Over the past four briefings, the PTF has been raising the alert flag on the rising number of infections in the country and the possibility of a second wave arriving at our shores.
“Recent Epidemiology records confirm to the PTF that Nigeria is now facing a rise in confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide which is similar to the second wave of infections occurring in other countries across the world. Particularly, Lagos, Kaduna and the FCT have emerged as the new epicentres during this period, with over 70% of all confirmed cases.
“Two major indicators highlight the current increase in cases and transmission across Nigeria. These are:
“Notwithstanding the fact that our testing numbers are fast approaching the peak recorded in July 2020, the number of cases being reported are disproportionately higher. For example, in the FCT, despite recording an increase of 85% in tests conducted over the last week, the number of confirmed cases increased by 285% during the same time period; and
“These trends point to a higher Test Positivity Rate (TPR- the number of positive cases detected as a proportion of all tests). The TPR was below 5% through September and October and we recorded a low point of 3% nationally in late October 2020. However, recent trends in cases has seen this number increase to 10% in the second week of December. These high numbers are further reflected in the increase of admissions to COVID-19 treatment centres and fatalities, particularly in the three epicentre states.”