FG LAMBASTS MAKINDE OVER REOPENING OF SCHOOLS, STATES, REVEALS REASONS BEHIND INCREASED FATALITY RATE

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has revealed that confirmed  Coronavirus cases in Nigeria had surpassed the 20,000 mark, reaching 20,244 between Sunday and Monday

While talking on the increasing fatality rate, the minister said, “The experience we are getting suggests that some of the fatalities recorded in our country may possibly have been saved if they had arrived designated treatment centres early enough.

“It is also emerging that the clinical condition of COVID-19 patients, especially the elderly and those with underlying illnesses, can change from mild to critical within such a short time that patients hardly have time to seek hospital care.

“I again advise all hospitals to have the right index of suspicion and recognise and promptly refer suspected cases to designated hospitals.

FG berates  Makinde, faults reopening of schools

The Minister of state for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba,  while answering questions from journalists during the press conference, faulted the reopening of schools by governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.

According to him, the Ministry of Eduction did not give out any guideline to Oyo State to reopen schools, emphasising that like all other sub-nationals, governors were under the constitution of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The Oyo State Government, last week, announced that the primary 6 pupils, the Junior Secondary School 3, and the Senior Secondary School 3 students in the state would resume classes next Monday (June 29).

Makinde, who said that a team of experts were reviewing the pattern and progress made in the fight against the virus, said the opening of schools in the state was scheduled to be gradual.

Copyright PUNCH.