COVID-19: Nigeria records 490 new infections & 31 more deaths

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Wednesday said Nigeria has recorded 490 new cases of the novel coronavirus and an additional 31 deaths linked to the virus.

The new figures put total infections in the country at 17,148. Although 5,623 persons have been successfully treated and discharged, 455 casualties have been recorded to the virus, according to the NCDC.

In the latest reporting, Lagos state posted 142 new cases, while the Federal Capital Territory contributed 60.

Other states with new cases include Bayelsa (54), Rivers (39), Delta (37), Oyo (30), Kaduna (26), Imo (23), Enugu (19), Gombe (11), Ondo (10), Bauchi (8), Ogun (7), Borno (6), and Benue (1)

On Tuesday, the Lagos state government stopped the reopening of worship centres initially scheduled to begin from June 19.

The state government cited the increasing rise of COVID-19 cases in the state as a reason for its decision.

Nigeria is currently in the second phase of relaxing COVID-19 restrictions as the government tries to re-start the economy while keeping the virus at bay simultaneously.

Experts believe cases will continue to rise as the country ramps up testing for the virus.

According to the NCDC, 96,402 samples have been tested as of Tuesday evening.