NCDC: Only 2M Nigerians tested for COVID-19 so far

NCDC records 69 new cases of COVID-19, 1 Death

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has revealed it has carried out 2,002,653 tests since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This means that the agency has delivered on its self-imposed target of two million tests in the country.

The NCDC said this on its official Twitter handle late on Monday.

On April 28, 2020, the agency had said that in terms of testing capacity in the country, it had targeted conducting tests for two million Nigerians in three months.

“NCDC Laboratory Strategic Group has set itself a target of testing two million people across Nigeria in the next three months.

The two million will come to about 50,000 per State, which it noted was a very ambitious target.

Nigeria has now conducted about 2,002,653 tests since the first confirmed case relating to the COVID-19 pandemic was announced in the country on February 27, 2020.

To meet up the testing target, the country tested about 100,000 people at various NYSC orientation camps nationwide.

It also executed a National Testing Week as part of arrangements to ramp up testing.

The country has now achieved a very substantial and flexible testing capability.

Meanwhile, the NCDC also announced 69 new cases of COVID-19 as at May 17 bringing the total confirmed cases to 165,778.

The cases were recorded in three states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Ondo topped with 35, followed by Lagos 30, Rivers and the FCT reported three and one, respectively.

The health agency disclosed that the country recorded one death raising the death toll to 2,067.

Also, the 156,415 people have recovered from the virus so far.

Today’s report includes:

Data from Lagos State recorded over the last two days

Data from Ondo State recorded from 27th April to 16th May, 2021

(NAN)