WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, stated this on Wednesday in remarks to the 8th meeting of the Emergency Committee on COVID-19, established under International Health Regulations, IHR, a treaty that guides global response to public health risks.

In the speech posted on WHO website, the director-general recalled the sustained decline in COVID-19 cases and deaths in recent months, driven largely by increasing vaccination rates in Europe and North America, but sounded alarms over the fresh reversal of that positive trend.

“Unfortunately…we are now in the early stages of a third wave,” he said.

Last week marked the fourth consecutive week of rising cases of COVID-19 globally, with increases recorded in all but one of WHO’s six regions. Deaths are also rising again, after 10 weeks of steady decline.

Meanwhile, the director-general said the virus was continuing to evolve, resulting in more transmissible variants.

“The Delta variant is now in more than 111 countries and we expect it to soon be the dominant COVID-19 strain circulating worldwide, if it isn’t already,” Ghebreyesus said.

The spread of the Delta variant – one of the main drivers of the current increase in transmission – was also being fuelled by increased social mobility and the inconsistent use of proven public health and social measures.

He drew the Committee’s attention to the ongoing “shocking disparity” in the global distribution of vaccines, as well as unequal access to life-saving tools, reiterating his concern that inequity had created a two-track pandemic.

According to him, one track for countries with the greatest access to vaccines, who are lifting restrictions and reopening their societies, and a second track for those without vaccine access, who are left at the mercy of the virus.

“Many countries still have not received any vaccines, and most have not received enough.”

In that context, the director-general reiterated WHO’s appeal for a massive push to vaccinate at least 10 per cent of the population of every country by September, at least 40 per cent by the end of 2021, and at least 70 per cent by mid-2022.

Emphasising that vaccines alone would not stop the pandemic, he called on countries to persist with a “tailored and consistent approach.”

That means using the full array of available public health and social measures and taking a comprehensive risk management approach to mass gatherings.

“So many countries around the world have shown that this virus can be stopped and contained with these measures,” he stressed.

To provide support, WHO recently issued updated guidance to facilitate a risk-based approach for opening.

The agency is also reviewing options to digitalise the International Certificate for Vaccination and Prophylaxis, to support a harmonised approach for recording vaccination status.

Source: NAN

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, made this known on Friday on its Twitter handle.

According to the release, Lagos State has the highest figure of 46 for the day.

The tweets read:

“130 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;

Lagos-46

Ogun-19

Kwara-18

FCT-12

Kaduna-10

Ekiti-6

Abia-5

Edo-3

Sokoto-3

Osun-3

Niger-2

Oyo-2

Akwa Ibom-1.

“161,539 confirmed

147,581 discharged

2,027 deaths.”

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A competent source in the court told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that the judge tested positive for the virus and was expected to be on isolation.

Justice Nyako, on January 28, attended the valedictory court session held at the Ukeje Hall of the court’s headquarters in Abuja in honour of Late Justice Ibrahim Watila who was buried last weekend.

Justice Watila of the Abeokuta Division of the court passed away after a brief illness.

The valedictory session was presided over by the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, and was attended by judges of the court across the country, including lawyers and the late Watila’s family members.

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The figures were released on Thursday by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on its Twitter handle.

Lagos State recorded the highest cases of infection of 570.

The Federal Capital Territory recorded 117 new cases to come second.

The tweets giving further details read:

“1031 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;

Lagos-570

FCT-117

Kaduna-109

Nasarawa-34

Bauchi-31

Kano-28

Plateau-26

Sokoto-26

Ogun-25

Edo-18

Rivers-16

Abia-10

Imo-7

Taraba-6

Delta-4

Osun-4

“87,510 confirmed

73,713 discharged

1,289 deaths.”

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Describing the death of Mallam Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to the President, as a huge loss, Anyim, in his letter of condolence to the president prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased.

Anyim’s letter of condolence to Buhari reads: “It is with a deep sense of loss that I join other Nigerians to condole with your Excellency on the death of your Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari.

“Mallam Abba Kyari was a hardworking, loyal and dependable Chief of Staff who discharged his duties with uncommon commitment and diligence. Every well meaning person who encountered him in office came away with conclusion that he knew his onions and went about his duties with candour. Losing such a reliable aide at such a trying time as this cannot be an easy experience for your Excellency.  This is a huge loss, not only to your Excellency and Mallam Abba Kyari’s immediate family but also to the Federal Government, Borno State and the many friends and associates of Mallam Abba Kyari.

“As I join the rest of Nigerian to pray for the repose of the gentle soul of Mallam Abba Kyari, I pray also that Almighty God will grant your Excellency the strength to bear this huge loss.  May God continue to guide and protect you as you continue your worthy services to our dear country to the glory of Almighty God.”

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Three of the discharged persons are female while two are male.

That brings the total number of persons discharged so far to 90.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State made the announcement of the five discharged persons on Thursday on his Twitter handle.

Said he: “Dear Lagosians,

“Today, 5 more patients; 3 females and 2 males, have been discharged from the Mainland Infectious Diseases Hospital to reunite with the society.

“They were discharged having recovered fully and tested negative twice consecutively to #COVID19.

“This brings to 90, the number of patients successfully managed and discharged from our isolation facilities.

“I appeal to residents to stay at home, practice #SocialDistancing and observe the highest possible personal and hand hygiene.”

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