The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported 157 new cases of COVID-19 Monday.
In a Twitter update via its verified handle, the government agency said there are now 65,305 confirmed cases of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus in Nigeria.
A total number of 61,162 people it said, have so far been discharged from hospital, while the number of deaths now stands at 1,163.
Coronavirus is continuing its spread across the world with more than 50 million confirmed cases in 191 countries and about 1.3 million deaths.
As of Monday, well over 54 million COVID-19 cases have been reported worldwide, with more than 32.8 million of those listed as recovered, according to a coronavirus tracking tool maintained by Johns Hopkins University. The global death toll now sands at more than 1.3 million, the U.S.-based university has said. According to the BBC, Africa has recorded nearly two million cases. South Africa, with almost 750,000 cases and 20,000 deaths, is still the worst affected country on the continent. Morocco, Egypt and Ethiopia are the only other African countries to officially record more than 100,000 cases.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) director Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is reportedly concerned about rising COVID-19 cases. Ghebreyesus said that now ‘is not the time for complacency’ despite recent positive developments in coronavirus vaccines. He addressed a press conference and said that although there is ‘encouraging news’ coming out he is ‘extremely concerned’ about the surge in cases in Europe and the US.
He said: ‘This is not the time for complacency. While we continue to receive encouraging news about COVID-19 vaccines and remain cautiously optimistic about the potential for new tools to arrive in the coming months.
‘Right now we’re extremely concerned by the surge in cases we are seeing in some countries, particularly in Europe and the Americas.
‘Their health workers and their systems are being pushed to the breaking point. WHO has issued guidance and tools to increase capacity for the medical and public health workforce and supplies and facilities to manage COVID-19 patients.
‘At present WHO has 150 emergency medical teams assisting countries in the planning in the implementation of their emergency responses.
‘WHO and partners are working with governments and health leaders to ensure that there is cover for health workers that are sick.
‘That there are enough beds for COVID-19 patients and for essential services to continue safely.