NYSC camps were recently reopened after eight
months of shutdown caused by the COVID-19
outbreak (image used for illustrative purpose) [Daily
Nigerian]
The affected corps members have been isolated
for medical treatment.
Five members of the National Youth Service Corps
(NYSC) have tested positive for COVID-19, the
disease caused by the coronavirus, at the
orientation camp in Abuja.
The capital city's NYSC coordinator, Walida Isa ,
announced on Monday, November 16, 2020 that a
total of 858 corps members were tested before
entry into the camp.
"The five that were positive were taken to the Nigeria
Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for treatment,"
she said.
Kano State NYSC coordinator, Aisha Tata, also
announced on Monday that two corps members
tested positive out of the 826 tested.
Camps were shut down in March to contain the
spread of the novel disease, but were reopened on
November 10, 2020 , with a mandate to test all
prospective corps members upon arrival.
The reopening of the camps comes amid fears by
officials that Nigeria might be about to witness a
second wave of COVID-19 outbreak .
Officials have repeatedly cautioned Nigerians to
adhere strictly to non-pharmaceutical safety
measures to prevent infection.
Since Nigeria's first case was detected in February,
over 65,000 cases have been recorded, with over
1,100 killed.
The country currently has less than 3,000 active
cases with tens of thousands recovering from
infection.