Nigeria running out of bed spaces at COVID-19 treatment centres, FG worried

COVID-19
Beds at a Covid-19 coronavirus isolation center being built with donations from Dangote at the Sani Abacha stadium in Kano, on April 7. Photographer: Aminu Abubakar/AFP via Getty Images
COVID-19
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha (left) during a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari

Nigeria’s government has alerted that the nation’s COVID-19 coronavirus isolation and treatment centres are running out of bed spaces.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, disclosing this on Friday during a briefing by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 in Abuja, said, efforts were being intensified to monitor the level of compliance of the Federal Government advisories and guidelines regarding the phased ease of lockdown in the country.

As part of government’s efforts to curb the community transmission of the pandemic, delivering his address, Mustapha said the PTF met with heads of security agencies and asked them to ensure strict enforcement of the inter-state travel restrictions.

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“The outcome of our surveillance still points to the fact that violations are still rampant and as I have always pointed out, portends a very dangerous trend.

“Nigeria is presently at the community transmission phase and yesterday, Thursday 7th May, 2020, we witnessed the highest single-day number of 381 confirmed cases.

“This could be considered worrisome but for the fact that this rise is associated with our increased testing capacity, which has provided an opportunity to detect hitherto hidden cases.

“However, this increased testing does not translate to higher fatality rates as in the last few days, we have witnessed a good number of discharges and a continually reducing daily fatality rate.

“We have also received reports from the states, which suggests that the treatment centres are running out of bed spaces. As we assess the situation, the PTF shall also begin to examine our peculiar circumstances, modify the strategies for care management, and consider viable alternatives, where necessary. At the appropriate time, the guidelines and protocols shall be unfolded,” Mustapha said.