Deaths in Kano confirmed as covid-19

Nigeria's presidential task, which ordered an enquiry into the sudden rise of deaths in Kano, has confirmed that the deaths are due to covid-19.

The deaths were all among people over 60, almost all of them in the same location and some had tested positive to the virus. The task force is therefore satisfied that they were caused by covid-19.

Kano has registered 342 confirmed cases of covid-19, the second largest number after Lagos with 1,107.

Kano in the north of Nigeria has a population of 13.4 million and the central government is concerned about the spread of the disease in the state, where health facillities ae poor and literacy is low.

According to a report from Human Rights Watch Kano's only testing station had to be shut down at the end of April for several days.

On 3 May the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported a total of 170 new cases in 12 states, with 30 new cases in Lagos and 29 in Kano. Total cases in the country have reached 2,558 with 87 deaths.