State governments said they will resume mass testing for Covid-19 following the detection of the Omicron variant of the virus in the country. Top government officials in Cross River, Benue, Delta and Akwa Ibom states however described funding as a major obstacle to community testing.
They asked the Federal Government to assist them in the area of funding of community testing, particularly running of molecular laboratories. The states made the demand as the World Health Organisation said the new variant had spread to twenty-three countries. Meanwhile, virologists have expressed fear that the strain was already circulating in the country, but could not be detected because most states had stopped community testing.
Chidozie Chima | September 20, 2024
