The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has directed all 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to reopen all laboratories and isolation centres.

Speaking to newsmen at a briefing on Tuesday evening, Chairman of the PTF, Boss Mustapha, also asked states and the FCT to increase COVID-19 testing.

“We wish to urge all states to reopen all laboratories and ensure that testing is expanded and turnaround time for results is substantially reduced.

“In the same vein, states should please keep their Isolation and Treatment Centres open because of the rising cases of infection nationwide,” he said.

Mustapha added, “Reports received also point to the fact that laboratories recently established in the states are not working optimally.

“You will recall that we moved from two laboratories to about ninety (public and private) located in all states of the Federation. Their inability to function optimally has resulted in unacceptable levels of delay in receiving results and pressure on the national reference labs.”

AFNews reports the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) on Tuesday evening confirmed 749 new cases of Coronavirus disease infection in Nigeria.

The new cases of COVID-19 infection were confirmed via a statement on the official Twitter handle of the health agency.

This brings the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nigeria to 85,560 which includes 71,937 discharged cases and 1,267 deaths.