Chairman of the presidential task force (PTF), Boss Mustapha has revealed that out of thirteen thousand, eight hundred and forty-four, (13,844), evacuees tested for COVID-19, about six hundred and eighty-four, (684), have tested positive for the virus.

 The disclosure was made on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja where the chairman said:

 “The PTF appreciates all our young people who have stepped out and are contributing to the fight against the pandemic and implore others yet to do so, to join this fight with all the necessary passion their youthful energy can bring to bear.”

“I am sure that our risk communication and community engagement strategy would gain a lot of mileage if the various youth organizations and the youth themselves heed this call.”

“It might interest you to note that of the 14,906 evacuees received during this COVID-19 pandemic, close to 80 percent are youths for which we are glad that only 684 tested positive for the coronavirus out of the 13,844 so far tested.”

“The country has effectively entered the second week of the extended eased lockdown phase and the PTF continues to monitor global and national trends in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“Globally, the world continues to pursue the search for a vaccine with over 1,000 trials ongoing and different claims of levels of success. We note, particularly, the announcement by the President of Russia on the breakthrough in the development of a vaccine even as we study the developments.

 “Fighting the pandemic successfully will take a global effort and Nigeria will not be left out whenever and where ever progress is made. However, the health and safety of Nigerians will always remain our priority in the pursuit of a solution.

 “For us in Nigeria, we shall remain focused on propagating the use of proven avoidance methods to break the transmission of the virus and effective case management to care for and treat infected persons.”