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Seven days ago, in Reports Of `Mysterious Deaths' In Kano State, Nigeria, we looked at media reports of hundreds of recent deaths in the northern state of Kano. A typical headline:
COVID-19: Nigerians react to mysterious deaths of prominent persons, 600 others in KanoSince we are in the midst of a pandemic, COVID-19 would seem the most likely cause, but Government officials have consistently denied any connection to the virus, as in the following Kano State Government press release:
MYSTERIOUS DEATHS IN KANO: GOVT REACTS, SAYS UNCONNECTED WITH COVID-19
(Excerpts)
In a Statement made available to journalists in Kano, the state Commissioner of Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, said although investigation into the cause of the deaths is still ongoing, preliminary report from the state Ministry of Health indicated that the deaths are not connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He added that reports from the state Ministry of Health has shown that most of the deaths were caused by complications arising from hypertension, diabetes, meningitis and acute malaria.Under increasing pressure over the past week, government officials agreed to investigate further, and yesterday - according to numerous media reports - Dr. Nasiru Sani Gwarzo, leader of the Presidential Task Force Committee on COVID-19 revealed to the press that up to 80% of the deaths in Kano were likely due to COVID-19.
Kano Mysterious Deaths Caused by Coronavirus – Official
Posted on May 3, 2020
The mysterious deaths recorded in Kano state, Nigeria, in recent times is said to be caused by coronavirus, an official of the Presidential Task Force Committee on COVID-19 has confirmed.
Over 640 persons, including prominent figures, reportedly died in the previous week in Kano from previously unidentified illness. The illness has now been confirmed to be Coronavirus.
Dr. Nasiru Sani Gwarzo, leader of the Presidential Task Force Committee on COVID-19 said that the virus was the cause of the mysterious deaths recorded in Kano State in recent days.
The state government had previously denied links of COVID-19 to the deaths but a survey based report carried out by by Yusuf Yau Gambo, a lecturer at the department of mathematics at Yusuf Maitama Sule University in Kano revealed otherwise.
Gwarzo, who spoke on Sunday, said the test carried out established that COVID-19 responsible for hundreds of deaths recorded in Kano.
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The `official report' is supposedly still a week from release, and Nigeria's COVID-19 numbers - while nearly doubling in the past week - don't even begin reflect a fraction of the cases and/or deaths in Kano State.
Meanwhile, Nigeria is looking to ease some of the restrictions of their 5-week long lockdown. This from Pulse.ng.
Coronavirus now spreading in Abuja, Lagos, Kano communities - NCDC
Today at 7:19 AM
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says it has established community transmission of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Abuja, Lagos and Kano states.
The NCDC Director-General, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, made the disclosure on Channels Television Station in Abuja, on Sunday.
He spoke on the backdrop of gradual lockdown ease in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states, billed to start on Monday.
Abuja, Lagos and Ogun have been locked down by President Muhammadu Buhari for five weeks in an effort to curb COVID-19 spread.
Mass movement will be gradually scaled up in the three localities from Monday but curfew will be imposed from 8.00p.m. and 6.00a.m., while use of face mask will be mandatory in public.
(Continue . . . )
