The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has admitted erroneously announcing that Zamfara state recorded 8 new cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

On Monday, May 18, 2020, NCDC had announced that Zamfara state had recorded 10 new cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) which was disputed by the state’s government on Tuesday, he insisted the state had only recorded 2 new cases and not 10.

Alhaji Yahaya Kanoma, the state Commissioner of Health told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gusau that the state government had alerted the NCDC of the error and demanded that it be rectified.

“We were shocked and bewildered by this latest figure from the NCDC which said 10 new cases were confirmed when we know it was only two.

“Our records have shown that when results from the center returned, we had a total of 76 cases made up of 45 discharged persons, 26 in isolation and five dead, so we didn’t know where NCDC got the additional eight.

“We approached the center which could not give a convincing explanation, and so we demanded for a written apology which they promised to send as well as withdraw the media publicity that we had 10 new cases,” the commissioner said.

The NCDC while reporting the new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) as at 20th of May, 2020 rectified the error, they apologized to Zamfara state while acknowledging it was erroneously recorded. T

On the 18th of May, 8 new cases in Zamfara were erroneously announced

Therefore, as at the 20th of May 2020, Zamfara has recorded a total of 76 confirmed cases

We apologise to  @Zamfara_state for this error and reiterate our commitment to accurate & transparent reporting of data