…considers Ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment
The Lagos State Government has again directed all public places not to allow a gathering of more than 50 persons.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the State Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola made this known quoting the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu in a statement.
He stated that the directive is in line with the Presidential Order on Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), but that religious gatherings were exempted.
“At all gatherings, a physical distance of at least two metres shall be maintained at all times between persons.
“No gathering of more than 50 persons shall hold in an enclosed space, except for religious purposes, in which case the gathering shall not exceed 50% capacity of the space,” the statement reads in part.
Meanwhile, the State Government has said it will deploy Ivermectin in a short clinical trial to ascertain its efficiency in preventing and treating COVID-19 infection.
“The State Government is aware of numerous international claims that the broad spectrum anti-parasitic agent/medication Ivermectin has shown some efficacy in acting as a sustained prophylaxis in containing/inhibiting the causative virus in SARS CoV-2.
“While this medication has not yet been approved for the broad treatment of the Coronavirus disease, the State Government has however taken the bold step of ensuring we have adequate stocks of Ivermectin, which will be initially deployed in a short clinical trial to ascertain its efficiency in our population to prevent and treat COVID-19 infection,” a statement by the State Government reads.
TNG reports Lagos State continues to be the epicentre of the Coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria.
As of the 29th of January 2021, Lagos State had recorded a total of 47,871 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Of this number, 34,094 have recovered in community, while 9,856 are currently active in community.
Over the last 12 months, about 3,988 COVID-related patients have been admitted into the various care centres across the State; with a registered fatality rate of approximately0.63% (301 deaths).
Currently, Lagos State has 21 private and 4 public health laboratories accredited for Covid-19 testing. So far, a total of 316,801 samples have been tested, with 47,871 diagnosed as Positive.
The test positivity ratio for January 2021 is 24%, which means that one out of every four tests returns positive. This is the highest monthly average recorded in the last six months.