The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has alerted that the state has started experiencing a steep increase in the number of daily confirmed cases of COVID-19. Governor Sanwo-Olu in his COVID-19 update on Sunday said within the last two weeks, the occupancy rate at the isolation centres increased from an average of one per cent to six per cent.
According to him, Lagos over the last three months appears to be moving towards the start of a potential third wave of the pandemic. “The test positivity rate going from 1.1 percent at the end of June 2021 to its current rate of 6.6 percent as at 8th of July 2021, and the rapid increase within a week gives great cause for concern,”
he added. He, however, said the state will continue to test aggressively and focus on sequencing the samples collected to ensure the detection and track-keeping 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 said. He added that outside of the health facilities accredited for the management and treatment of COVID-19, and the EKOTELEMED programme, no other health facilities, whether public or private, are permitted to admit or attend to COVID-19 patients.
“The Lagos State Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency is providing monitoring and surveillance and has been mandated to apply heavy fines and other punitive measures on all facilities found to be in violation of this.
“Lagosians should desist from patronising non-accredited COVID-19 treatment centres, and proprietors should also ensure that all suspected and confirmed cases are referred appropriately,” he noted. The governor said while both the Federal and State Governments have a huge role to play in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the responsibility of managing the third wave belongs to everyone.
“Without the co-operation of the public at large, we stand the risks of losing both lives and livelihood, on a devastating scale.“Therefore, I would like to once again reiterate that this is not the time to get tired or be complacent. Instead, we must be re-energised to battle this invisible and seemingly relentless enemy.
“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.
“The enemy is formidable – and opportunistic. It will only go as far as we allow it. Having triumphed over the first and second waves of the pandemic, we must now find within ourselves new reserves of energy to quell this emerging third wave before it snowballs out of control.“Let me assure us all that victory over COVID-19 is much closer today than at any other point in our recent history. But we must persevere to see this victory. We must maintain our vigilance even as we ramp up the vaccination coverage.
“At this point, I would like to thank all the members of the Incident Command Structure for their resilience in the management of this never-ending pandemic, and also the Federal Government, through the Presidential Steering Committee, for all their support and collaboration.
“Lagos State will continue to work with all our partners, across government and the private sector, to ensure that we permanently triumph over this virus. We will not rest until this is achieved,” he said.
Source: https://healthwise.punchng.com/
