Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, said so far, the state had recorded a total of 506 registered fatalities since the outbreak of the pandemic, out of which “135 have sadly happened in this current third wave.”
Sanwo-Olu gave the figure while briefing newsmen on the update on the COVID-19 pandemic at the State House, Alausa, Ikeja.
He disclosed that the state government supplied a total of 400 cylinders of oxygen to treat severe COVID-19 patients daily in all its isolation centres, saying the figure rose from the utilisation of 75 cylinders per day at the beginning of the third wave currently ravaging the state. He further disclosed that the state government, in anticipation that more oxygen supply might be needed over the next few weeks, was exploring ways of increasing its oxygen capacity, including partnering with the private sector.
He, however, expressed delight that 94 per cent of all the people who had opted into the home care programme of the state, translating into 4,787 persons, had been discharged, with no deaths recorded since it was launched in 2020.
“Our home-based care programme, powered by the EKOTELEMED call centre, has so far catered to 5,074 COVID-19 positive persons, out of a total of 20,716 positive persons who have been offered the programme. What this means is that three of every four COVID-19-positive persons offered the free Lagos State telemedicine programme have opted not to use it,” he said.
Meanwhile, the governor, during the address said the Federal Government had delivered a total of 299,992 doses of Moderna vaccines to the state, adding that tomorrow, another round of vaccination will commence across the state.
He said a total of 150 centres had been put in place across the state for the administering of the vaccines, adding that qualified citizens would have to register online before they would be attended to at the centres.
He posited that the increase in the number of centres where the exercise would take place to 150 “is to prevent the gathering of large crowds and ensure that the vaccination campaign does not itself become a super spreader event.
“We will ensure that the administration of this vaccine is based solely on appointment. Please, do not visit any of the allocated facilities until you have registered online and given an appointment date. Register and book an appointment on the Federal Government’s vaccination portal. You can find the list of healthcare facilities at which vaccinations will be taking place on the website of the Lagos State government.”
This was just as the governor reiterated that Moderna vaccine is a two-dose vaccine, like the AstraZeneca vaccine that was deployed during the first phase of vaccination, warning that it (Moderna) should not be mixed with the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Governor Sanwo-Olu added that the state had since discovered that the third wave emerged on account of non -adherence to the laid-down health protocols, disclosing that out of every 100 tests conducted, the positivity rate currently stands at 12.1 per cent, compared to 1.1 per cent at the end of June 2021, and seven per cent at end of July 2021.
“For this reason, it is essential for me to, once again, remind all of us of the huge responsibility we have to contribute to fighting and defeating this virus.
“The health and travel protocols and guidelines issued by the federal and state governments exist to protect and safeguard us all and the inconveniences that might come with them are only a small price to pay, to avert far more serious consequences,” the governor said.
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