In the wake of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, globally, countries have continued to employ diverse strategies in the control of the virus. These strategies are aimed at preventing, detecting, controlling and mitigating the impact of the pandemic. While these initiatives have proven to have differential effectiveness, one approach that has been adopted by several countries is the lockdown strategy. This is a “stay at home measure†to slow the spread of virus.
On the 30th March 2020, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari issued a lockdown of non-essential activities in Lagos State, the FCT and Ogun State for an initial period of 14 days. Lagos is currently the epicentre of the disease in Nigeria; the FCT has the second highest number of cases; and Ogun has proximity to Lagos State.
At the end of the initial period, the lockdown was further extended for two-weeks effective from the 13th of April 2020. The lockdown has had socio-economic impacts and disrupted daily routine activities of many Nigerians as in several other countries.
While there are several questions on when the country will exit the lockdown phase, it is also critical to highlight the window of opportunities that the lockdown presents towards controlling the spread of the disease. These include:
1. Enabling prompt detection and treatment of cases
2. Limiting transmission in areas where cases have been reported
3. Limiting the spread of new cases to other geographical areas
4. Enhancing contact tracing activities and efficient use of resources
5. Improving sample collection
As we continue in these efforts, we urge Nigerians to also take responsibility by complying with measures instituted and recommended by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Our ability to overcome the current pandemic depends largely on our collective efforts and will determine how soon we are able to resume social and economic activities in the country.
Notes
1. Information for this disease was retrieved from the Technical Working Group and Situation Reports
2. Case Fatality Rate (CFR) for this disease is reported for confirmed cases only
3. Information for this disease was retrieved from IDSR 002 data
4. CFR for this disease is reported for total cases i.e. suspected + confirmed
5. Information for sentinel influenza was retrieved from the laboratory
Key points
• There were 136 suspected cases, 12 confirmed cases and three deaths recorded from 24 LGAs in 14 states and FCT
Actions
To date:
• National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has been activated to coordinate response activities across states
• Public Health Emergency Operations Centre activated in affected states
• National Rapid Response Teams (RRT) deployed to ten states
• Surge staff (Doctors, Nurses, Laboratorians and Hygienist) have been deployed to Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) and Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owo
• The five molecular laboratories for Lassa fever testing in the NCDC network are working fully thereby contributing to reduced turnaround time
• The NCDC is working closely with states to identify one treatment centre per state, while supporting existing ones required commodities
• Scaled up risk communications and community engagement activities across states using television, radio, print, social media and other strategies
• Implementation of Lassa fever environmental response campaign in high burden states by Federal Ministry of Environment
Key points
There were 17 suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) reported from 11 LGAs in eight states (Borno – 1, Gombe – 3, Kaduna – 1, Katsina – 3, Nasarawa – 1, Sokoto – 5, Yobe – 1 & Zamfara - 2). None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded
Actions
To date:
• National CSM TWG meets weekly to review reports from states and plan appropriately
• Enhanced surveillance in all states
Planned:
• Continue harmonisation of the national line list and SORMAS data
• Continue to ensure that states reporting cases send their line lists and collect CSM samples
Key points
• There were 17 suspected cases of Yellow Fever (YF) reported from 13 LGAs in four states. None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded
Actions
To date:
• National multiagency YF Technical Working Group (TWG) is coordinating response activities
Planned:
• Surveillance and laboratory data harmonisation are ongoing
Key points
• There were seven suspected cases of cholera reported in Katsina LGA of Katsina state this week. None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded
Actions
To date
• The National cholera multi-sectoral Technical Working Group (TWG) is monitoring all states and supporting already affected states
Planned:
• Continue follow up and monitoring of non-reporting states
• Continue harmonisation of the national line list and SORMAS data
Key points
• There were 837 suspected cases of Measles reported from 123 LGAs in 22 states. None was laboratory confirmed and 15 deaths were recorded
Actions
To date
• National Measles Technical Working Group (TWG) is closely monitoring surveillance data and response activities across the country
Planned:
• Intensify follow up with states to update and transmit line list
• Continue the review of measles surveillance data across the country
• Continue harmonisation of the national line list and SORMAS data
Key points
• There was one suspected case of Monkeypox reported in Kuje LGA of FCT. It was not laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded
Actions
To date
• National Monkeypox Technical Working Group (TWG) is monitoring activities in all states
Planned:
• Enhance surveillance for monkeypox in high burden states
• Continue harmonisation of the national line list and SORMAS data
Key points
• There were 40 suspected cases of AFP reported from 39 LGAs in 22 states and FCT. None was laboratory confirmed and no death was recorded
Actions
To date:
• National Emergency COVID-19 (LF) multi-partner, multi-sectoral Operations Centre (EOC) activated at level continues to coordinate response activities across states.
• Support to unaffected states to strengthen their COVID-19 preparedness
• National Rapid Response Team continues to support affected states
• Deployed Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS) to states not using SORMAS but with COVID-19 cases
• COVID-19 testing strategy unveiled
• Deployed medical commodities to affected states
Planned:
• Continue mobilisation of resources
• Continue to establish surge capacities across all response pillars
Key points
• The subtypes A seasonal H3, 2009A/H1N1 and A/not subtyped account for 0(0.0%), 2(9.5%) and 19 (90.5%) of the total influenza A positive samples, respectively. The subtypes B VICTORIA, B Not subtyped and B Yamagata account for 0(0.0%), 8(100%) and 0(0.0%) of the total influenza B positive samples respectively.
• The percentage influenza positive was highest in week 10 with 40%.
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