#COVID-19: Nigeria Records Zero New Case As UAE Eases Restrictions For Nigeria, Others

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has, for the first time, recorded zero new cases of COVID-19 across the country.

As of Sunday, June 20, 2021, the country did not record any new case of the disease for the first time since Feb. 2020 when it recorded its first infection.

NCDC, however, noted that the data did not include cases from Lagos State, one of the epicentres of the pandemic in the country. 

“Report includes 0 cases from FCT, Imo, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Oyo, Ekiti, Kaduna, Edo and Rivers States,” NCDC posted on Facebook. 

According to the NCDC, the overall number of discharged patients throughout the country has risen to 163,577, out of a total of 167,206 confirmed cases. 

Also, there have been no new death cases from disease in the country in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, authorities at Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), announced on June 19, a change in processes for foreign travellers arriving from Nigeria, India, and South Africa. 

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the UAE authorities have announced new processes that would relax limitations and confirm that Emirate Airlines will begin flying passengers from these nations on June 23. 

The new restrictions were announced by the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management in Dubai, according to the UAE Embassy in Abuja.

Sheikh Mansoor Al-Maktoum, the Chairman of the Supreme Committee, said that the updates are part of the Committee’s keenness to protect passengers and ease hassles for them without compromising on COVID-19 preventive measures.

“The Media Office announcement said the updated travel protocols are part of a normal process of revising and optimising preventive measures based on the latest local, regional and international developments,” an official statement from the airline said.

“Following the announcement, UAE carrier Emirates Airlines confirmed it would start carrying passengers from South Africa, Nigeria and India in accordance with the new protocols from June 23.”

“We look forward to facilitating travel from these countries and supporting various travellers’ categories.” 

It stated that “residence visa holders from India and travellers from South Africa should’ve taken two doses of a vaccine approved by UAE authorities and carry RT-PCR tests reports from labs approved by the federal governments of these countries.”

“But for Nigerians vaccination is not made mandatory but all other conditions apply.”

“In addition to the above, Indians have to take a rapid PCR test four hours prior to their travel.”

“While there are four vaccines in the UAE for use on eligible individuals against the COVID-19 infection – Sinopharm, Pfizer-BioNTech, Sputnik V and Oxford-AstraZeneca, it is unclear if the UAE has approved vaccines administered on Indian, South African and Nigerian citizens in their countries,” it stated. 

NAN reports that all travellers are also required to present a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 48 hours before departure; however UAE citizens are exempted.

Only QR coded PCR test result certificates are accepted. All passengers must take a rapid PCR test four hours prior to flight departure. All passengers must undergo a PCR test on arrival at Dubai Airport.

Passengers should undergo institutional quarantine until they receive their PCR test result, which is expected within 24 hours.

Passengers should produce a negative PCR test certificate with a QR Code from labs approved by the Nigerian government.

All passengers must undergo a PCR test on arrival to Dubai Airport. Transit passengers should comply with entry protocols of final destinations.