The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, says the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in the state now stand at 70,729.Abayomi made the disclosure through his Facebook account @ProfAkinolaAbayomi, on Tuesday, while giving the state’s COVID-19 update for Aug. 22.

He said that 2,009 tests were conducted on the reported date, out of which 166 new COVID-19 infections were confirmed in the state.

According to him, the new infections increased the state’s total COVID-19 infections to 70,729.

He said  the total number of COVID-19 tests conducted in the state since inception of the pandemic,  was 664, 835.

According to him, 4,721 COVID-19 patients who have been successfully treated and recovered, have also been discharged from the state’s care centres.

“Total number of COVID-19 recovery in communities is 60,915, while cases currently under isolation stood at 235 and active cases under home-based care are 4,346,’’ he said.

The commissioner, however, disclosed that the state recorded another six COVID-19 related fatalities, increasing the COVID-19 deaths in the state to 512.

Earlier, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, disclosed that the state had witnessed an increase in the use of oxygen for the management of severe COVID-19 patients at isolation facilities.

Sanwo-Olu said that utilisation of oxygen, which was vital for the treatment of severe cases, had increased from 75 cylinders per day at the beginning of the third wave, to over 400 cylinders per day.

“With our modelling, suggesting that we may be requiring even more oxygen supply over the next few weeks.

“We are exploring several ways of increasing our oxygen capacity, including partnering with the private sector,” he said.

The governor also said that currently, the state had two functioning oxygen plants at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Yaba, and Gbagada General Hospital.

He said the state was looking forward to taking delivery of two additional oxygen plants,  being built in the state by the Federal Government.

Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the state’s target was to achieve an oxygen supply capacity of 1,000 cylinders per day.

“It is important to note that oxygen supply is free at all public facilities designated for the treatment of COVID-19 in Lagos state,” he said.

The governor advised the public to report any staff soliciting fees for the provision of oxygen, to the office of the state commissioner for health.

Sanwo-Olu assured that appropriate disciplinary action would be taken against such unscrupulous persons.