The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed that 138 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have tested positive to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Director General of the health Agency, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu who made the disclosed on Monday at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 in Abuja said none of those who tested positive was allowed into the camps.
According to him, 34,785 corps members and members of the camp communities were tested .
He said, “We tested over the last few weeks a total, so far, of 34,785 people of which we found a total of 138 positive only.”
“So, we have a total prevalence of 0.4 per cent; in fact, about one in 200 new people coming into the camps turned out to be positive.
“None of them were allowed into the camp; all of them were excluded and either managed at home or the treatment centre depending on if they had symptoms and what state they were in,” the NCDC boss added.
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He also spoke about the progress made so far in the area of vaccination against the disease, noting that four vaccines had already been announced.
Dr Ihekweazu stated that while these have brought excitement, there were lots to consider to guide decisions on which to go for when they became available.
The Minister however noted that the agency is working with the education stakeholders to ensure the safe reopening of universities.
“Universities are slightly riskier and present unique challenges, but we are confident that we can address this as we have done in other sectors like aviation,” Ihekweazu said.