The Lagos State Government on Friday warned that coronavirus cases in the state may surge to 39,000 in the coming weeks if proactive measures were not put in place to remedy the situation.
Lagos currently has 44 confirmed cases, which include 41 active cases and 3 discharged patients.
Health Commissioner, Prof. Akin Abayomi, at a news conference on Friday disclosed that about 3,000 primary contacts of those infected with the disease were being traced on daily basis, warning that this might heightened the figure if the contacts were not observing self-isolation or social distancing.
According to him, the projection was that the state could have cases as high as 39,000, but that with its strategy of tracing primary contacts of victims and constant follow up, it might not exceed 13,000.
He, however, said Lagos was making significant progress compared to what was happening across the globe.
“So we have to make sure that we practice aggressive social distancing. if we carry on with out strategy we will not give the disease the opportunity to spread.”
Abayomi stated that the current statistics compared to other countries after four weeks showed that the country was getting it right with containing and curtailing the virus.
He said “we are doing something right in Lagos. Then if we continue to do that then we will remain on the lower trajectory. It shows we are keeping the curve flat which is allowing us to keep up with number of cases we have so far. Until the virus runs out of wind, the curve will flatten, bend and continue to reduce.
“At four weeks, Spain and Italy had thousands of cases, but after four weeks we have just 37. Our data shows that Lagos and Nigeria are doing very well in containing this virus.”
NAN