Coronavirus scare in the country hit a frightening phase on Wednesday, March 18, as fives more cases of the global epidemic were reported, barely twenty-four hours after the Ministry of Health announced the third case.

The new developments were confirmed by the special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on new media, Tolu Ogunlesi. In a series of tweet, Ogunlesi said four of the victims are Nigerians who just came from the United States of America and United Kingdom.

The presidential aide also claimed that one of the four new Nigerian victims is a 6-week old baby — the youngest victim reported so far.

He added that the fifth victim is a “foreign national who came in through the land border — the first case of infection via land border in Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, coronavirus test has been carried out in 10 states since February 27 when the first case was reported.

Although some suspected cases tested negative, the last five days have seen the country dive into the red zone as more cases- confirmed or suspected- were reported in some states.

And as it stands, here are the states with confirmed and suspected cases of the Covid-19 epidemic.

1. Ekiti: Ekiti state has recorded its first case of coronavirus with the victim testing positive after driving an American citizen from Ibadan.

2. Edo: There are only suspected cases in Edo, though the state government says all hands are on deck.

3. Enugu: There is no confirmed case of coronavirus in Enugu as the state government announced that the test result of the suspected case in the state is negative.

4. Plateau: The Plateau government has announced that all 43 suspected cases in the state are negative.

5. Katsina: Coronavirus cases are still suspected.

6. Kano: Kano state commissioner of health, Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, said that the three rumoured cases of coronavirus were confirmed negative, adding that the state remains free from the coronavirus.

7. Lagos: Lagos, unarguably, tops the coronavirus index in the country as not less than eight cases have been reported in the state.

8. Ogun: Ogun state has one case of coronavirus and many suspected cases.

9. Yobe: Coronavirus case in Yobe state is still suspected.

10: Ondo: Ondo state government has confirmed that there is a suspected case of coronavirus in Akure, the state capital.

This is coming after the state government announced it’s first suspected case of COVID-19. Engr Yakubu Danja, the state commissioner for health speaking to journalists on Thursday, March 19, said the result of the test was negative.

While advising residents of Katsina state to be calm, Danja added that there was no other confirmed case of the virus in Katsina at the moment.

A few hours after President Donald Trump said chloroquine had been approved to treat COVID-19, the demand for the drug increased in stores across Lagos and Abuja.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, health experts had dismissed speculations that chloroquine could be used in fighting the virus, but at a press conference on Thursday said, Trump, the drug had gone through the approval process, a statement contrary to that of Stephen Hahn, the commissioner for Food and Drug Administration who maintained that chloroquine would still need to go through clinical trials.

Chloroquine, oral artemisinin-based monotherapy (oAMTs) for malaria treatment, could become a scarce commodity in a matter of days.

At Chris Health Pharmacy, Onilekere area of Lagos, the store owner who gave his name as Chris said he was yet to understand why people trooped in to buy chloroquine.

I have about 20 packs left and all finished this evening. In fact, only one person bought 15 packs. He said he would return tomorrow when I have more,” he told TheCable.

Chris who appeared not to have followed the news lately asked: “Please, what is happening? Why are people buying chloroquine?”

At the Ojota/Ogudu axis, people also rushed to buy chloroquine. A lady who came in and bought six chloroquine syrup for children said: “They said it was 50:50 cure for coronavirus before, but the US president confirmed today that it should be used for coronavirus. I’m sure the prices would go up immediately.”

A pharmacy at Jendol Superstores in Isheri Olofin, chloroquine was not available but a roadside shop had it at the rate of N150 per sachet. When TheCable visited Abek Pharmacy at Old Ipaja road in Agege, the attendant said chloroquine was still available also at the rate of N150.

At Christies Pharmacy along Ijegun-Ikotun road, Alimosho, the attendant said chloroquine was also available but sold for N250

One of the store owners in Ijegun who identified himself as Moses said the drug has been in high demand as he had received more orders in just six hours.

The product was unavailable at Skylife Standard Pharmacy on college road, Ogba. The pharmacist said: “People rushed in to buy this evening as soon the announcement was made that it could cure coronavirus.”

Three of the pharmacies in Garki area of Abuja were selling the drug within the price range of N200 to N250, while it sold for N500 in another.

At Glotop Pharmacy, located close to Apo legislative quarters, the drug was already sold out at the rate of N500.

“It was not in high demand before but people have been rushing it,” an official at the pharmacy said.

At Augustina Medical Complex in Durumi, the drug was sold at N200 even as the attendant said there has not been any noticeable difference in the demand.

It was the same situation at Dorathyl Pharmacy, also in Durumi, except that it sold for N250.

The last packet was being sold for N150 as TheCable got to Zochem Pharmacy in Abuja. The store owner, however, said he has placed orders for more and from Friday, he would sell for N500 or even more.

The drug was sold out at Jessi-Jen pharmacy in Abuja but at the Eleventh Pharmacy also in Abuja, a packet that used to be N300 is now selling for N800.