Nigeria has recorded six new cases of the B117 strain of COVID-19 bringing the number of cases in the country to seven.

Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Chikwe Ihekweazu confirmed this on Monday during the Presidential Task Force (PTF) briefing in Abuja.

The NCDC DG stressed that the COVID-19 strain which was first reported in the United Kingdom is deadlier and as such Nigerians must be careful

According to Mr. Ihekweazu, in the last week, 75 health workers have reportedly tested positive, a development which he describes as worrisome.

The NCDC boss however revealed that rapid test kits have been approved in five hospitals within the FCT, adding that the plan is to later deploy the kits to other parts of the country.

Last Monday, the Presidential Task Force (PTF) announced that the Covid-19 strain first reported in the United Kingdom had been discovered in Nigeria.