The Lagos state Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi has disclosed that at least 4,176 persons infected with coronavirus in Lagos State are currently undergoing home-based treatment in the wake of the second wave infections across Nigeria, and the world at large.
Disclosing the figures on Friday via his Twitter handle, @ProfAkinAbayomi, Abayomi wrote, “Total number of #COVID19 recovery in communities – 22,789; cases currently under isolation – 115; active cases under home-based care – 4,176; new #COVID19 related death – 3; total deaths – 240.”
He put the number of COVID-19 cases discharged from Lagos care centres at 2,901 while three new coronavirus-related deaths were recorded, bringing the total COVID-19 induced fatalities in the state to 240.
The commissioner also identified five top high burden local government areas in the state with COVID-19 cases as Eti-Osa, Ajeromi, Surulere, Amuwo-Odofin and Mushin.
He appealed to people to stay safe, avoid crowded places and celebrate responsibly, warning that those who have no reason to move around should stay at home.
In his earlier tweet on December 30, 2020, Abayomi said COVID-19 infections in Lagos were 30,221.
Meanwhile, the Lagos branch of the Nigerian Medical Association has lamented the nonchalant attitude of Nigerians, saying it is responsible for the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chairman of the Lagos NMA, Dr Adetunji Adenekan, said this on Friday in a statement, titled, ‘Reflecting on the lesson of (the outgone) year 2020.’
Adenekan also stressed the need for a high index of suspicion among health care professionals.
He said, “We must state, with the utmost sense of responsibility, that the carefree or nonchalant attitude of the Nigerian public towards the COVID-19 protocols is largely responsible for the second wave of the pandemic.
In an interview with The PUNCH live-streamed on Facebook on Wednesday, a virologist, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, stated that there was mutation in the structure of COVID-19 with a new strain that spreads faster now found in Nigeria.
He said the strain might lead to more infections and deaths if people failed to observe the necessary safety measures.
Tomori said, “The latest I have read this morning (Wednesday) is that it seems to affect younger people a little more than before. This is an evolving thing and people are learning about it every day. So we have to keep our eyes open. It is difficult to predict (that it will lead to more deaths) but because it spreads faster and in an environment where people are not taking proper preventive measures, it means more people will get it.
“How you react to it depends on individuals so it may lead to more deaths. The chances are that if the virus is affecting more people, we are likely to have more people dying.”