By BOLA BADMUS, Lagos

Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has raised the alarm over rising COVID-19 positive cases in the wake of the second of the pandemic, saying the oxygen demand by patients in the state-owned isolation facilities had jumped from 70 to 360-litre cylinders per day and projected to hit 750 by end of January, 2021.

Governor Sanwo-Olu also counselled that, in the second wave of the pandemic, any malaria-like symptoms by patients should be considered as COVID-19 infection unless proven otherwise by the test conducted on the patients.

The governor made this known, on Tuesday, while briefing newsmen on the update of COVID-19 situation in the state, held at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

This was just as he said that the increase in the positivity of cases had necessitated the provision of greater amounts of concentrated oxygen for the moderate to severe cases on admission in the state isolation centres.

“The increase in the positivity of cases has necessitated the provision of greater amounts of concentrated oxygen for the moderate to severe cases on admission in our isolation centres.

“Over the last few weeks, the demand for oxygen has risen from 70 6-litre cylinders per day to 350 6-litre cylinders in our Yaba Mainland Hospital.

“This is projected to more than double to 750 6-litre cylinders, before the end of January 2021,” the governor said.

Besides, the governor disclosed that the state government had decentralized the availability of oxygen across the state through the provision of 10 oxygen and sampling kiosks, assuring that oxygen therapy and other related services would be provided to patients that required them, adding that five of these 10 oxygen centres had been commissioned while the remaining five would be ready for use within the next four weeks.

“In addition to providing oxygen at our isolation centres, the Lagos State government has decentralized the availability of oxygen across the State through the provision of 10 oxygen and sampling kiosks.

“Oxygen therapy and other related services will be provided to patients that require them.

“Five of these 10 oxygen centres have been commissioned while the remaining five will be ready for use within the next four weeks.

“It is our expectation that these sampling kiosks would be easily accessible to residents that require oxygen therapy at the level of Local Government Areas, LGAs as stabilization points prior to onward transmission to our Isolation centres, if required.

“In addition to providing oxygen at our isolation centres, the Lagos State government has decentralised the availability of oxygen across the state through the provision of 10 oxygen and sampling kiosks. Oxygen therapy and other related services will be provided to patients that require them.

“Five of these 10 centres have been commissioned while the remaining five will be ready for use within the next four weeks. It is our expectation that these sampling kiosks would be easily accessible to residents that require oxygen therapy at the level of LGAs as stabilization points prior to onward transmission to our Isolation centres if required,” the governor said.

“This strategy is to further increase the fighting chance of Lagos residents that have contracted the virus and require immediate oxygen therapy. As a result of the increasing demand for oxygen, the Lagos State Government also commissioned an Oxygen Plant at the Yaba Mainland Hospital to mitigate the projected need,” he added.

On vaccines, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the state government was closely monitoring ongoing action by the Federal Government to procure COVID-19 vaccines for use in the country.

The governor also said that the state government had also opened discussions with vaccine manufacturers to ensure that when the vaccine becomes available Lagosians can be catered for.

“We are closely monitoring ongoing action by the Federal Government to procure COVID-19 vaccines for use in Nigeria. We have also opened discussions with vaccine manufacturers so that when the vaccine comes eventually we can ensure that Lagosians are catered for,” he said.

“In the meantime, we are developing a strategy that will articulate the criteria, guidelines and regulatory framework for providing and monitoring vaccinations in Lagos,” he further said.

Speaking on the reopening of schools despite COVID-19 spike, Governor Sanwo-Olu described the decision as a difficult one to make in light of the situation at hand, assuring that it was “the best decision for our children’s safety and long-term development especially our most vulnerable children.”

(Nigeria Tribune)

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