FG Links About 587 Out Of 979 Deaths In Kano To COVID-19

The federal government has linked the death of about 587 out of the 979 people who died under controversial circumstances in Kano State in April to COVID-19.

Recall that the federal government had sent fact-finding team to Kano State to investigate the strange deaths in the state.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, disclosed to journalists during the briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja that the final report showed that a total of 979 deaths were recorded in eight municipal councils in the state at the rate of 43 deaths per day.

He further explained that the verbal autopsy carried out showed that about 56 per cent of the deaths had occurred at home, while 38 per cent were in the hospital.

The Minister added that over 150 health workers have been infected at the time of the arrival of the medical team.

Meanwhile, he added that there was no report of an infection among health workers who had received training from the team on infection prevention and control

He said: 

“With regard to unexplained deaths in Kano, which occurred in April, the team confirmed from graveyard records that a total of 979 deaths were recorded in eight municipal local governments areas of the state at a rate of 43 deaths per day, with a peak in the second week of April. By the beginning of May, the death rate had reduced to 11 deaths per day it used to be.”

"Investigation further suggests that between 50-60 per cent of the deaths may have been triggered by or due to COVID-19, in the face of pre-existing ailments. Most fatalities were over 65 years of age."

“It is gratifying to note that they all returned safely and had no incident of contracting the infection."