Date: 2020-12-13

1. The last few weeks have recorded a new surge in confirmed COVID-19 cases across Nigeria. Kwara State is no exception.

2. Presently, there are two epidemiological curves of the disease in Kwara State. The first curve peaked between July and August 2020, then plummeted in September-October, at which stage people thought Covid 19- was 'winding down'. Some States thus started closing their isolation centres. However, in Kwara State, the isolation centre at Covid-19/Infectious Disease Centre Sobi, Alagbado, remains operational, and is maintained by the Medical Advisory Committee and dedicated frontline medical personnel, including Laboratory Scientists and attendants.

3. It is important to state clearly that we now have the second wave of COVID-19 outbreak in Kwara State - just like a few other states of the country.

4. The second curve started early in November with sharp rise in number of positive cases. The reasons for this second wave are many, including (i) increase in awareness for voluntary testing, which has increased the number of new cases; (ii) nonchalant attitude of many Kwara State residents and non-adherence to preventive measures against the disease; (iii) influx of people from other States in Nigeria and from overseas; (iv) expansion of sampling and testing capacities by the State which was assisted by the Federal Government of Nigeria under the Regional Disease Surveillance System Enhancement (REDISSE) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

5. Statistically, cross sectional studies conducted by a team of researchers of the Medical Advisory Sub-Committee on Covid-19 Kwara State reported that between 11th July – 11th August 2020 the total number of confirmed cases was 500, whereas between 11th September – 11th October 2020, the total number of confirmed cases dropped to 63. However, between 11th November and 11thDecember 2020, the total number of confirmed cases rose to 180, an approximate threefold increase with 17 cases on admission at the isolation centre. Yesterday December 11 alone, the state reported 23 confirmed cases!

6. Residents of the state are therefore urged to adhere to preventive measures at all times to limit the spread of the disease.

Dr. Femi Oladiji.

Chairman Medical Advisory Sub-Committee&

Covid-19. Kwara State

December 12, 2020