Sanwo-Olu

 

By Ngozi Onyeakusi—Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in his covid-19 update statement alerted that, the state has since the beginning of July been seeing a steep increase in the number of daily confirmed cases, with the test positivity rate going from 1.1% at the end of June 2021 to its current rate of 6.6% as at 8th of July 2021.

According to the governor, “The rapid increase within a week gives great cause for concern. Also, within the last two weeks, the occupancy rate at our isolation centers increased from an average of 1% to 6%. This is the new and disturbing reality that now confronts us, Sanwo-Olu warned.

Sanwo-Olu also noted, “starting around the end of March 2021, the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Lagos State began to wind down, and we began to enjoy some reprieve from the worst effects of the virus.

“This allowed us to further open up the economy to allow the start of the journey towards full normalcy in our lives and the pursuit of livelihoods, after what has been a very difficult year, he said.

.“Regrettably, despite the hard work and dedicated efforts towards sustaining the return to normalcy, over the last three months, we are now finding ourselves at what appears to be the start of a potential 3rd wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, in Lagos State, the governor lamented.

He disclosed that as of the 7th of July 2021, the state had recorded a total of 60,202 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

“Of this number, 55,135 have recovered in-community and 770 are currently being managed actively in-community.

“Over the course of managing the COVID-19 pandemic, about 4,382 patients have been admitted into our various COVID-19 care centres in Lagos: with 357 registered fatalities”, he added.

The governor also disclosed that the state has so far tested 563,679 samples since the pandemic has begun.

He however promised that the state will continue to test aggressively.

“We will also focus on sequencing the samples we are collecting to ensure we are detecting and keeping track of the different variants in circulation. It is only by testing and sequencing comprehensively that we can collect the data required for informed decision-making”, he stated.

The governor urged residents of the state to be self-cautious and not get tired or be complacent but continue to observe all safety protocols.

He noted, “after almost 18 months of daily confronting this virus, it is understandable that many are tired and want their old, pre-pandemic lives to return.

“Unfortunately, we do not have a choice in this regard, and fatigue is not an option. We cannot afford to be tired, frustrated, or distracted” said governor Sanwo-Olu.