12,486 case in covid-19 Nigeria; Abia governor infected, churches reopen

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, became the third African country to record over 10,000 cases of COVID-19. The milestone was reached on May 31 when 307 new cases took its tally to 10,162.
As Africa’s biggest economy, the federal government has continued to enforce regulations across the board even though most state governments have moved to relax restrictions.
Lagos being the economic nerve center is rolling out a progressive reopening of the economy. It is the most impacted state with over 5,000 cases as of May 31. Only Cross River State had yet to record a case.
The national response is led by the Presidential Task Force, PTF, led by SGF Boss Mustapha along with a national coordinator and relevant ministers – chief among them, Health, Foreign Affairs and Education ministries.
This article is dedicated to covering events from the country throughout the month of June. Our May 2020 daily updates page also gives you a rundown of major activities.

June 8: Abia governor tests positive, churches reopen

Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, is the latest leader of state government to be infected. Abia commissioner of information confirmed this morning that the governor had tested positive for COVID-19.
John Okiyi Kalu, added that the governor had gone into isolation and subsequently directed his deputy to act as governor whiles he undergoes treatment and resumes duty.
He joins a list that included Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna, Senator Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and Seyin Makinde of Oyo all of who have recovered from the virus.
The commissioner’s statement read in part: ”Recall that on Saturday, 30th May, 2020, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu volunteered his sample for COVID-19 test and subsequently directed members of the state Executive Council (EXCO) and those of the inter-ministerial committee on COVID-19 to submit themselves for the same test.
“On Tuesday, 2nd June, 2020. Tthe result of Governor Ikpeazu’s test returned negative. On Thursday, 4th June, 2020, the Governor submitted another sample at NCDC laboratory for confirmation and the result returned positive.
”As a result, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has gone into isolation, as required by relevant NCDC protocols, and he is being managed by a competent team of medical practitioners with a view to nursing him back to good health.
”Consequent on the above, the Governor has directed his Deputy, Rt Hon Ude Oko Chukwu, to act on his behalf pending his full resumption of duties.
”We wish to urge all Abians to take the fight against COVID-19 serious as the disease is real but not a death sentence. Our state has the resources to manage patients back to good health.”
Places of worship, especially churches have resumed operations across the country. In Abuja, happy congregants expressed joy at being able to worship communally despite restrictions. Not all churches opened, as a number of them chose to remain closed for the time being.
Total confirmed cases = 12,486
Total recoveries = 3,959
Total deaths = 354
Active cases = 8,173