By ABUJAH RACHEAL

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 51 new cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing to 493, the total number of cases in Nigeria.

The NCDC, through its verified Twitter account on Friday night, said that by 10:10p.m. on April 17, Nigeria had 493 cases with 317active.

It said that the 51new cases were recorded in nine states – 32 in Lagos, six in Kano, five in Kwara, two in FCT, two in Oyo, two in Katsina, andone each in Ogun and Ekiti.

According to the agency, 159 patients have been treated and discharged, and 17 deaths recorded.

It said that the majority of the active cases was in stable condition.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), report that 20 states of the federation have recorded COVID-19 infection.

The NCDC said that Lagos had 283 cases,FCT – 69, Kano – 27, Osun – 20, Edo – 15, Oyo – 15, Ogun – 10, Kwara – nine, Katsina – nine andBauchi – six.

It added that Kaduna had six cases, Akwa Ibom – six, Delta – four, Ondo – three, Ekiti – three, Enugu – two, Rivers – two, Niger – two and Benue and Anambra, one each.

It said that a multi-sectoral Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), which was activated at Level 3, would continue to coordinate the national response activities.

The agency said that as at 6:00 p.m. on Friday (April 17), 7,153 samples had been tested for COVID-19 in Nigeria.

The NCDC gave the assurance that it was working hard to scale up testing. (NAN)