The Lagos State government has debunked insinuations that the dreaded Coronavirus had found its way into the state.
In a statement at the weekend, the government said: “The attention of Lagos State has been drawn to a story of a query suspected case of #2019nCoV infection, which presented at a particular private hospital in Lekki, Lagos, on January 1, 2020. The subject in question is an adult male Nigerian who arrived from China four days ago. He was in Shanghai throughout his stay in China and during his stay he did not have any contact with anyone who was ill or from Wuhan region.
“On his return to Lagos, he followed the public advisory issued by Lagos State Ministry of Health. Like a responsible member of the society, he chose self-quarantine. He presented to a hospital for a check-up, just to be sure, but was found to be perfectly well and asked to return home to continue his self-quarantine.
He is, therefore, clinically not a suspected case of #2019-nCoV as he is not exhibiting any symptoms.
“As of 2:38 pm on Saturday, the report from the epidemiology officers of the state’s Ministry of Health and the doctor that attended to him at the hospital in Lekki indicated that he is in perfect health with no symptoms of #nCoV2019…”
Nigeria, with the help of World Health Organisation (WHO), acquired in-country capacity to test for coronavirus.
Health Minister Dr Osagie Ehanire said this on Sunday in Abuja in a statement by the Head of Media and Public Relations in the ministry, Mrs Enefaa Bob-Manuel.
He said: “Such persons who develop fever, cough, sore throat or difficulty in breathing should also report to the nearest hospital for check-up.
“All healthcare workers who receive patients with symptoms like fever, cough, difficulty in breathing, are to supply them masks and isolate them.
“They should do so before contacting the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on 07032864444.”
Also, President Muhammadu Buhari has joined other world leaders in expressing his support and good wishes to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese citizens as the country battles to overcome the outbreak of Coronavirus.
(Text, courtesy of The Nation)
