FG rules out fresh lockdown despite rising COVID-19 infections

The Federal Government is worried that the country is recording a surge in COVID-19 cases but says it will not impose a fresh lockdown.

Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, disclosed this on Thursday during the weekly State House press briefing.

Nigeria is currently battling the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic following the emergence of the Delta variant.

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Wednesday confirmed 790 COVID-19 cases across 12 states and the Federal Capital Territory – the highest single-day count in over six months.

Due to the surge in the number of infections, many Nigerians are worried that a lockdown may be imminent.

Ehanire said Nigeria had not reached a threat level that should warrant imposing a lockdown, but noted that lockdown posed a great threat to business activities.

The minister said most countries threatened by COVID-19 infections no longer imposed general lockdown but a precision lockdown, where certain areas were shut down.

“We are not at a level yet where we are feeling that threat to do any lockdown but I tell you many countries are not doing generalised lockdown but precision lockdown,” he said.

“As I speak to you now, there are several countries that are on one kind of lockdown or the other; at least if my recollection is correct, six or seven countries are on one form of lockdown or the other. We do not have that on the table right now.”