COVID-19: Presidential Villa issues precautionary measures, as Nigeria's records 573 new infections


Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu

Total COVID-19 infections in Nigeria rose to 243,450 on Sunday, 2nd January 2022, just as the Nigerian Government issued precautionary measures for visitors to the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Of these patients, 215,352 have been declared free of the virus, meaning that 25,059 cases remain active in the country.

These figures are cumulative from February 2020 when the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Nigeria.

Between then and now, 3,039 fatalities have been recorded.

For the daily report, 573 fresh infections came in on Sunday, a drop from the 536 the day before.

Sunday also witnessed 574 discharges as against 482 on Saturday.

While there were two deaths from the virus on Saturday, six patients died on Sunday.

At the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the precautionary measures for visitors were necessitated by recent infections .

Last week, a Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu confirmed that he contracted the COVID-19 virus. He has since been declared fit by the doctors.

Back to work, Shehu told State House reporters that the new protective measures were put in place to ward off a resurgence of the infection in and around the President.

Shehu, who said the new measures are not targeted at the Governors willing to see President Muhammadu Buhari or any other guest of the President alone, noted that any visitor to the Villa must pass through the same process.

He said: “Yes, a new regime of COVID-19 regulation has been put in place for all visitors to the Villa, not for Governors alone.

“Every visitor to the Villa, not just those seeing the President, is now required to do a rapid test at the gate. The kits are freely issued so no one is required to make payment. This is purely temporary in view of the recent spike in cases, and will be removed any moment the situation abates. It’s a growing practice in government offices in many countries".

He further said that there would be exceptions.

“Although some exceptions have been made for a few leaders in government coming from outside the Villa, they too are encouraged to do those tests. This policy has rightfully been justified following the discovery of COVID-19 positivity in some of those tested since the last few days of the practice", the Presidential aide added.



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