There Are More COVID Cases At NYSC Camps Than Reported — Lai Mohammed

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, says the
number of COVID-19 cases recorded at the National Youth Service
Corps (NYSC) orientation camps across the country is more than
reported.

Over 109 prospective corps members had reportedly tested
positive for COVID-19, a report the scheme said is
“misleading”.

Adenike Adeyemi, NYSC director of press and public relations,
claimed that “there is no COVID-19 positive corps member in any of
the 37 NYSC orientation Camps nationwide”.

However, at least 35 confirmed cases have been recorded at the
Ogun state orientation camp and 20 at that of Kano state.

Commenting on the situation, Lai said if more tests are
conducted, “there will be more cases”.

He said consistent testing and non-compliance to
non-pharmaceutical interventions are responsible for the rising
cases of infection across the camps.

“Two things are responsible for the high cases of pandemic
reported at the National Youth Service Corps camps,” Mohammed
said.

“One is because of consistent testing that has been taking place
in the camps. The truth of the matter is that if we ramp up testing
today, there will be more cases.

“Second reason for the high cases is that people have actually
let down their guards. We are no longer obeying non-pharmaceutical
interventions such as washing of hands regularly with soap and
water or sanitising of hands when that (washing of hand) is not
available.”

The minister said Nigerians have relaxed their guard despite an
increased number of infections certifying that the country is
experiencing a third wave.

“If over 4.2 million people have been lost to the virus
world-wide and it is not abating. So we need to take more
seriousness on the protocols around COVID-19 especially on
non-pharmaceutical interventions,” he said.

“Some countries are even having the 4th and the 5th waves. It is
not unique to Nigeria. Because when you look at the wave, like last
Saturday it was 1000 plus and now going to 18000 cases in
Nigeria.

“In the last four weeks in particular, we have witnessed so much
increase even globally. So far, we are witnessing almost four
million every week globally and from daily cases of about 540,000,
we are now witnessing 570,000 daily worldwide.

“So really, Nigeria is already in the third wave and this case
has been compounded by Delta variant. And we have identified the
Delta variant in several states in Nigeria also.

“The Delta variant is about 60 times more potent than the wide
COVID II. And it is very virulent, deadly and more easily
transmissible.

“It appears that while the normal variant will take about seven
days to manifest, the delta variant manifests within two days of
being infected. So, it is a real challenge for us. But the PSC is
not resting on its oars to ensure that they give out necessary
directive to national response team to tackle this virus.”

The minister also said Nigeria is not seeking donations to
procure COVID vaccines.

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, says the
number of COVID-19 cases recorded at the National Youth Service
Corps (NYSC) orientation camps across the country is more than
reported.

Over 109 prospective corps members had reportedly tested
positive for COVID-19, a report the scheme said is
“misleading”.

Adenike Adeyemi, NYSC director of press and public relations,
claimed that “there is no COVID-19 positive corps member in any of
the 37 NYSC orientation Camps nationwide”.

However, at least 35 confirmed cases have been recorded at the
Ogun state orientation camp and 20 at that of Kano state.

Commenting on the situation, Lai said if more tests are
conducted, “there will be more cases”.

He said consistent testing and non-compliance to
non-pharmaceutical interventions are responsible for the rising
cases of infection across the camps.

“Two things are responsible for the high cases of pandemic
reported at the National Youth Service Corps camps,” Mohammed
said.

“One is because of consistent testing that has been taking place
in the camps. The truth of the matter is that if we ramp up testing
today, there will be more cases.

“Second reason for the high cases is that people have actually
let down their guards. We are no longer obeying non-pharmaceutical
interventions such as washing of hands regularly with soap and
water or sanitising of hands when that (washing of hand) is not
available.”

The minister said Nigerians have relaxed their guard despite an
increased number of infections certifying that the country is
experiencing a third wave.

“If over 4.2 million people have been lost to the virus
world-wide and it is not abating. So we need to take more
seriousness on the protocols around COVID-19 especially on
non-pharmaceutical interventions,” he said.

“Some countries are even having the 4th and the 5th waves. It is
not unique to Nigeria. Because when you look at the wave, like last
Saturday it was 1000 plus and now going to 18000 cases in
Nigeria.

“In the last four weeks in particular, we have witnessed so much
increase even globally. So far, we are witnessing almost four
million every week globally and from daily cases of about 540,000,
we are now witnessing 570,000 daily worldwide.

“So really, Nigeria is already in the third wave and this case
has been compounded by Delta variant. And we have identified the
Delta variant in several states in Nigeria also.

“The Delta variant is about 60 times more potent than the wide
COVID II. And it is very virulent, deadly and more easily
transmissible.

“It appears that while the normal variant will take about seven
days to manifest, the delta variant manifests within two days of
being infected. So, it is a real challenge for us. But the PSC is
not resting on its oars to ensure that they give out necessary
directive to national response team to tackle this virus.”

The minister also said Nigeria is not seeking donations to
procure COVID vaccines.