We plan to test 2000 samples daily in Lagos and 1000 in Abuja- NCDC DG

Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Chikwe Ihekweazu has promised to test 200 samples daily in Lagos and 100 in Abuja to help track the spread of coronavirus In Nigeria.

The NCDC boss made this disclosure in a press briefing by the presidential task force set up to manage the pandemic in the country.

Ihekweazu said this rule was part of the five rules to enable the NCDC work effectively as they look to ease contact tracing in the worst-hit states of COVID-19 virus before the two-week lockdown directive expires

The other rules were highlighted thus:

Plans to make sure that the collection of samples happen within 8 hours. Turn around time for testing must be less than 24 hours and isolate patients in less than 6 hours," he said in his address this afternoon

He noted the rules are to be measured amongst Lagos Ogun and Abuja for strict compliance. He also added that it has been difficult in tracking people down because Nigerians are very sociable people and experience daily, and regular physical contact.

Nonetheless, he admitted that 30% of coronavirus cases have been found through contact tracing.