Nigeria has recorded its second death to the novel Coronavirus, COVID-19.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire at a Presidential Task Force Briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja.

He said that most of the confirmed cases recorded were people who came into the country from abroad.

“Majority of them are persons who came from overseas and the others have been traced as close contacts of such returnees,” he said.

“The high number of imported cases in Lagos and Abuja is directly due to their function as the country gateway for air travels.

“Till date, three persons have been discharged after successful treatment. But sadly, another fatality was recorded over the weekend in the person of a patient who had severe underlying illnesses.

“We have intensified contact tracing and our strategy remains to promptly detect cases, isolate them, and follow up with their contacts and also isolate and treat, in order to reduce the spread of the infection.”

“As of today, the 30th of March, 2020, we have recorded 111 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria of which 68 are in Lagos, 21 in the FCT, seven in Oyo, three in Ogun, two in Bauchi, two in  Edo, two in Osun, two in Enugu, and one each in Benue, Ekiti, Kaduna and Rivers States.”

He stated that the ministry of health has intensified contact-tracing and plans were in place to increase its testing capacity.

“We have intensified contact-tracing and our strategy remains to promptly detect cases, isolate them and follow up with their contacts and also isolate and treat in order to reduce the spread of the infection,” he said.

“The federal ministry of health is working closely with states and the presidential task force on COVID-19 to review response activities and institute measures to protect the health and well being of Nigerians while the NCDC-led multisectoral emergency operation centres continue to coordinate national response activities.

“The NCDC has expanded its capacity by engaging hundreds of ad hoc staff to support various areas of responses including the call centres.

“On the order of the President, all retired but essential and able-bodied staff are to be recalled to service at this crucial period.”