Nigeria, yesterday recorded its highest daily COVID-19 infection figure since the beginning of the outbreak in late February. Nigeria recorded 796 new cases on Friday, health authorities said, smashing previous highest daily record of 745 reported on June 19. On Thursday, 675 new cases were recorded, one of the highest daily tally in six months. Nigeria’s coronavirus cases have been on the rise since early December with infection rates still concentrated in Nigeria’s two major cities and hardest hit regions – Lagos and Abuja.
In the last nine days, nearly 5,000 infections were reported, indicating a possible resurgence in cases after weeks of low numbers. The rising numbers put the nation on the precipice of what could be its worst stretch to date in the pandemic amid indications that a second wave is beginning. With the 796 new cases, the total number of COVID-19 infections rose to 72,140. The death toll from the disease remained 1,190 after nobody died in the last 24 hours.
Meanwhile, of the over 72,000 persons infected by the disease in Nigeria, 65,712 have been discharged from hospitals after treatment.