The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says 7,153 samples have been tested for coronavirus across Nigeria, adding that, more tests will be carried out.
Giving an update on tests, the centre for disease control said, “As at 6:00 pm 17th April 2020, 7153 samples have been tested for COVID-19 in Nigeria.
“We are working very hard to increase the number of samples tested, including community surveillance in the FCT and Lagos.”
In a 32-page plan titled, ‘National Strategy to Scale Up Access to Coronavirus Disease Testing in Nigeria’, NCDC said it has the capacity to test 1,500 persons in Lagos everyday.
As of April 14 2020, Nigeria has 12 functional testing facilities in eight states, with a capacity to conduct a minimum of 1,500 tests per day in Lagos and 1,000 tests per day in FCT and other states.
“As the epidemic intensifies, the NCDC will use a multi-phase approach to scale up testing to all 36 states”.
NCDC said its testing strategy will be adapted based on phases of the epidemic, as defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The three phases are containment phase, transition phase and localised community
transmission.
Read NCDC COVID-19 testing strategy here.
