3 new cases of Omicron variant confirmed in Nigeria

Three new cases of the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus has been confirmed in Nigeria, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

In an update by the NCDC on Tuesday, the three new cases of COVID-19 with the B.1.1.529 SARS-CoV-2 lineage (Omicron variant), was in addition to the three earlier announced on 1st December, 2021, bringing total number of confirmed cases in the country to six.

The Director General of the NCDC, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, who confirmed the new cases in a statement, said:

“The NCDC, through the National Reference Laboratory (NRL), continues to coordinate genomic surveillance activities across the country to sequence all positive COVID-19 samples from international travellers arriving in Nigeria.

“This includes sequencing of positive samples from international travellers from October 2021 to date. The Delta variant remains the dominant variant and so far, we have not seen the replacement of this variant by the new Omicron variant as observed elsewhere.

“The Omicron variant is a source of global concern because of its increased risk of transmissibility and its potential to escape protective immune responses induced by natural infection and/or vaccination.

“Taken together, and if true, the Omicron variant can significantly change the current global COVID-19 epidemiology. There is currently no evidence of generalised or community transmission of this variant in Nigeria.

“However, the NCDC will continue coordinating and implementing genomic surveillance activities in-country to keep Nigerians reliably informed about existing variants, the Omicron and indeed other variants that may arise based on national data and emerging global evidence.”

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Adetifa urged members of the public to continue to take personal and collective responsibility to ensure the safety of all Nigerians.

“Compliance with the travel protocols provided by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC-COVID-19) is mandatory for all international travellers arriving in Nigeria from any country.

“Incoming travelers should ensure their day 2 and day 7 tests are done as stipulated in Nigeria’s travel advisory. Otherwise, there will be consequences for defaulters which may include publication of their details, suspension of their passports and ban on travel to Nigeria by the PSC-COVID-19,” he added