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Tag: Lagos State

  • BREAKING: Ogun, Lagos record new COVID-19 cases

    BREAKING: Ogun, Lagos record new COVID-19 cases

    Ogun and Lagos States have recorded new Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed.

    The NCDC confirmed that Ogun recorded one additional case, bringing the number of cases in the State to 3, and Lagos recorded one additional case as well, bringing the number of cases in the State to 29.

    One case is a returning traveler, while the other case is a contact of a previously confirmed case, according to the NCDC.

    As at 1pm on March 24, there are now 42 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, with 2 cases discharged, and 1 reported death case.

  • COVID-19 cases rise to 30 in Nigeria

    COVID-19 cases rise to 30 in Nigeria

    Three new cases of Coronavirus disease (COVID19) have been confirmed in Lagos, Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said.

    According to the NCDC, 2 cases are returning travellers and 1 is a contact of a confirmed case.

    As at 05:28 pm on the 22nd of March, there are 30 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria. 2 have been discharged with no deaths.

    Meanwhile, NCDC has said that currently, there are five molecular laboratories in NCDC’s laboratory network with the capacity to test for COVID-19 in the country.

    “Our lab teams are working around the clock to ensure rapid testing of samples from suspected COVID-19 Nigeria cases across the country,” NCDC tweeted.

  • COVID-19: Chloroquine may cause more harm than good, says Lagos Govt.

    COVID-19: Chloroquine may cause more harm than good, says Lagos Govt.

    The Lagos State Government has said popular malaria drug, chloroquine, approved by the U.S. for treatment of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has significant side effects and should not be used without medical supervision, stressing it may cause more harm than good.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the U.S. on Thursday approved chloroquine, for the treatment of Coronavirus (COVID-19), with President Donald Trump saying at a Coronavirus Task Force news conference that the drug could help with symptoms of COVID-19.

    “It is known as a malaria drug and it’s been around for a long time and it’s very powerful. The nice part is, it’s being around for a long time, and so we know that if things don’t go as planned it’s not going to kill anybody.”

    “Normally the FDA would take a long time to approve something like that and it was approved very, very quickly. We’re going to be able to make that drug available almost immediately,” Trump said.

    However, according to the Lagos State Ministry of Health, there is no hard evidence that chloroquine is effective in preventing or managing COVID-19.

    “We are watching the global research space to clearly define its efficiency in COVID-19. Lagos State Ministry of Health will be conducting its own clinical trial on the effectiveness of chloroquine in the prevention or management of COVID-19 infection.

    “Chloroquine has significant side effects and should not be used without medical supervision, as it may cause more harm than good. In summary, await our directives for the use of chloroquine and do not use it without medical supervision,” the Ministry stated.

    COVID-19: NCDC warns Nigerians against use of Chloroquine

    Similarly, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has warned Nigerians against the use of Chloroquine, saying it was not approved for treatment or prevention of COVID-19.

    NCDC, in a tweet on Friday, noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has not approved the use of Chloroquine for COVID-19 management.

    The agency said that scientists were working hard to confirm the safety of several drugs for the disease, thus warned citizens against engaging in self-medication.

    “This will cause harm and can lead to death,” it said.

    Also, Gboyega Akosile, the Chief Press Secretary to the Lagos State Governor, through his Twitter handle, @Gboyegaakosile, disclosed that hospitals were receiving patients suffering from Chloroquine poisoning.

    Akosile attributed the information to Dr OreOluwa Finnih, the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Health.

    He urged the citizens against massive consumption of Chloroquine as a measure to fight.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that some Nigerians had started purchasing Chloroquine as a preventive measure against COVID-19, since news broke that China allegedly used Chloroquine as part of treatment for its COVID-19 patients.

    Coronavirus: Virologist warns against use of chloroquine

    Also, a Clinical Virologist, Dr Adeola Fowotade, has cautioned Nigerians against the use of Chloroquine, an anti-malaria drug, for the treatment of Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

    Fowotade, a staff of the University College Hospital Ibadan, gave the warning on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan.

    The virologist said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has not included the drug as a treatment option for COVID-19 in its treatment guidelines.

    She said while early reports from China showed the potency of Chloroquine in treating patients with COVID-19, there was no formal and in-depth study to get information on its efficacy and safety.

    “Currently, the studies we have on using chloroquine to treat COVID-19 are mainly from China and they are still evolving research.

    “They found that chloroquine has a way of inhibiting COVID-19 by reducing the multiplication of the virus introduced to the cell lines.

    “The studies also reveal that chloroquine helped to improve recovery in some patients and also helped to reduce the number of deaths from COVID-19,” she said.

    Fowotade said that although chloroquine has shown potency in treating corona virus, NCDC was hesitant to approve it for COVID-19 treatment until adequate clinical trials were conducted.

    According to her, there is no enough evidence to also ascertain a safe and effective dosage to use in treating the virus.

    “Clinical trials take time but are necessary. Clinical trial is something that is meant to go through a number of phases starting from what they do in cells and they also need to do the same things in animals and they also want to look at the safety of the drugs.

    “For instance, if chloroquine is going to be used to treat COVID-19 there is probability that you will be using it at a much higher dose than what you use for malaria and check its safety at that higher dose.

    ”All these need to be checked even before you get to human clinical trial.

    “However, because of the urgency of the situation, the studies done in China simply moved from cells to humans and so the result that they have generated from there is not sufficient enough for us as a country and the NCDC is not adopting chloroquine at the moment.

    “In any case, the thing about viral infections ultimately is that most viral infections are self-limiting in immuno competent persons, the immune system is sufficient to clear the virus.

    “Ideally, for persons that have good immune response by themselves, if you give them good supportive care, the immune system is able to take care of the viral infection by itself,” she said.

    The virologist also cautioned Nigerians against using the antimalarial chloroquine as a prophylactic or preventive drug for COVID-19.

    She warned against panicking to avoid falling prey to misinformation and unfounded claims about coronavirus with regard to its prevention and treatment.

    “If the virus is not there, then there is no use or basis whatsoever for taking chloroquine as prophylaxis.

    “This is just like what happened during the outbreak of Ebola virus when people were told to take salt, the same is happening with chloroquine, this is wrong and should be discouraged.

    “When people get misinformed, they take wrong actions and refuse to observe the necessary and the correct actions.

    “Ultimately, this puts the lives of people at risk, increase the spread and makes nonsense of the entire control effort,” she said.

    NAN reports that chloroquine, which is a medication used to prevent and treat malaria was a widely prescribed treatment for malaria in Nigeria.

    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States on Thursday said it was looking at a widespread and pragmatic clinical trials of the antimalaria drug for COVID-19.

    It has yet to approve chloroquine for the treatment of the coronavirus.

    NAN also reports that COVID-19 has infected over 200,000 persons world-wide, including 21 confirmed cases in Nigeria.

    NAFDAC approves chloroquine for clinical trials

    Meanwhile, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has approved chloroquine for clinical trials in tackling COVID-19.

    Director-General of the agency, Mojisola Adeyeye, made the disclosure at NAFDAC headquarters in Lagos on Friday, stressing that the Agency was not approving the drug for the treatment of COVID-19 but for clinical trials to find treatment for the virus.

    “In the case of Chloroquine, it has been demonstrated in the literature and with clinical research which is still ongoing, that Chloroquine is superior to the Placebo.

    “NAFDAC is not approving Chloroquine as a product that has can be used for Coronavirus because there is no submission to us for registration but because it is under clinical trials, NAFDAC approves medicines meant for clinical trials.

    “Therefore the medicine is being approved just for the clinical trials. Right now, we have asked one company to make a batch of Chloroquine for the purpose of clinical trials.

    “Nobody should use chloroquine as anti-malaria because of the resistance that has been proven to develop in the past after the use of chloroquine in the population,” Adeyeye said.

  • How third COVID-19 case in Nigeria turned in self to health workers

    How third COVID-19 case in Nigeria turned in self to health workers

    The Federal Ministry of Health on Tuesday announced a new case of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria, being the third COVID-19 case to be reported in the country since the spread of the pandemic.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) gathered that this case, according to the ministry, was confirmed on the 16th of March in Lagos State, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 3.

    CASE SUMMARY IN NIGERIA AS AT MARCH 16TH, 2020

    On how the third COVID-19 case in Nigeria turned in herself to health workers, the Federal Ministry of Health said the new case is a Nigerian national who returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom on the 13th of March after a brief visit.

    “On return to Nigeria, the case decided to go into self-isolation and subsequently developed symptoms, at which point, the case called the NCDC toll-free line to report symptoms.

    “Officials from the Lagos State COVID-19 Emergency Operations Centre were then dispatched to the case’s home to collect a sample. This was tested and positive for COVID-19,” the Ministry revealed in a statement.

    According to the Ministry, the case is currently being treated at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Yaba, Lagos, and TNG learnt that the third COVID-19 case patient is clinically stable and is responding to treatment.

    The Ministry also stated that contact tracing has started to identify all persons who the patient has been in contact with, since her return to Nigeria.

    The Ministry said the Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to assess the situation and review the national response accordingly.

    “We are immediately announcing the following interventions:

    “We strongly discourage any travel to all affected countries except for essential trips;

    “We encourage everyone returning to Nigeria from any country to self-isolate for 14-days

    “All those returning from countries where there is ongoing high community transmission (over 1,000 cases cumulatively), should self-isolate and will be actively followed up for 14 days by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Port Health Services

    “Please continue to maintain hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette,” an advisory by the Ministry read.

    GLOBAL SITUATION REPORT

    “The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Health continues to carry out daily risk assessments of the COVID19 situation.

    “The National Emergency Operations Centre led by NCDC and supported partners, will continue to support the Lagos State Ministry of Health in its response.

    “All Nigerians are asked to continue to take all necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families,” the Ministry further stated.

    These measures include taking the following precautions below:

    (1) Wash hands regularly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitiser if no water and soap is available

    (2) Maintain at least 2 metres (5 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing

    (3) Persons with a persistent cough or sneezing, should stay at home until they recover

    (4) Make sure you and people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene, with means covering your mouth and nose with a tissue. If none is available, you can cough into the sleeve of your bent envelope. If using a tissue when you cough or sneeze, dispose of the used tissue properly, into a dustbin

    (5) Stay at home if you feel unwell with symptoms like fever, cough and difficulty in breathing and please call NCDCs toll free number 0800 970 000 0010, which is available 24 hours a day, Monday to Sunday for guidance. Do not self-medicate

    (6) Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19 through the official Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Lagos State Ministry of Health and other State health department official channels on TV, radio and social media.

    Also, citizens have been advised not to abuse social media or spread misinformation or disinformation that can cause fear and panic.

    The Federal Ministry of Health through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control will continue to provide updates as and when they become available, and will put in place all available measures required to control the spread of any infectious disease outbreak in Nigeria.

  • BREAKING: Third case of COVID-19 confirmed in Lagos

    BREAKING: Third case of COVID-19 confirmed in Lagos

    The Lagos State Ministry of Health has announced that another case, the third case of the deadly Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been confirmed in Lagos, Nigeria.

    According to an update made by the Lagos State Ministry of Health, via its official Twitter handle, @LSMOH, the third case patient is said to be an independent case not connected with the index case.

    The carrier, a 30-year-old Nigerian female, who returned from the United Kingdom on Friday, 13 March 2020, observed self-isolation, developed symptoms and has been tested positive.

    She is now receiving care at Mainland General Hospital.

  • Lagos gas fire: Residents relocate to different destinations

    Lagos gas fire: Residents relocate to different destinations

    Some Abule Ado residents in Lagos State, who were affected by Sunday gas fire outbreak, have started packing their belongings to different destinations.

    Some of the victims told News Agency of Nigeria that the move was to avoid further destructions as the fire fighters were still battling to put off the blaze.

    Mrs Bisi Lateef, one of the victims, who was with her children said many of her household properties were destroyed by the fire.

    She narrated how her house was engulfed by fire when she and her children went out to visit a family friend.

    Lateef applauded her neighbours for calling her on phone to alert her of the incident, saying “little of my property was saved by people around when the incident began’’.

    “I don’t know where to go with these things in my car boot; those are the remains of my households. All that I laboured for are gone.

    “My husband’s car that was parked in front of the house was already burnt before my arrival and I don’t even know what to tell him when he comes back from tour.”

    Lateef said that she would drive her children to a safer place in a public school at the Ojo Barracks area for safety until she found a better place to stay.

    Mr Basil Akobundu, one of the affected residents, while moving his household items said that he just wanted to leave the place for safety.

    “Although, I don’t have a particular place where I want to relocate to but the situation here is devastating.

    “As you can see, the fire has destroyed many buildings close to my own and its raging towards my house, but I will not wait for it to happen.

    “If it means staying on the road away from the scene with my family alive is better than being counted a casualty.

    “The way I see this fire burning, it will not be up to an hour before it gets to my house.”

    Meanwhile, the Amuwo Odofin Local Government (LGA) Chairman, Mr Valentine Buriamoh in charge of the area had visited the place to ascertain the level of damage.

    He also promised to assist the victims.

    Reuters reported on Sunday that an explosion at a gas processing plant on Sunday killed at least 15 people and destroyed about 50 buildings due to the fire.

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said the explosion was triggered after a truck hit some gas cylinders stacked in a gas processing plant near the corporation’s pipeline in Abule Ado area of Lagos State.

    The impact of the explosion led to the collapse of nearby houses, damaged NNPC’s pipeline and caused the corporation to halt pumping operations on the Atlas Cove-Mosimi pipeline, the state-owned oil company, it said in a statement.

    According to Ibrahim Farinloye, the Zonal Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), several people were injured and taken to hospital already.

  • VIDEO: Why we are not wearing protective gears around COVID-19 patient – Hospital MD

    VIDEO: Why we are not wearing protective gears around COVID-19 patient – Hospital MD

    Dr. Bowale Abimbola, Managing Director of Mainland General Hospital, Yaba, where the confirmed Nigerian case of Coronavirus (Covid-19) is being isolated, monitored, and treated has provided a reason why officials are not putting on protective gears around the centre.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Dr. Abimbola gave the reason on Sunday during a tour of the Lagos State owned Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), where he said maintaining a distance of 2 meters away from the Covid-19 patient guarantees against the disease.

    Recall that a faint picture of the Italian man who brought Coronavirus to Nigeria was unveiled on Saturday, with Prof Akin Abayomi and Dr Abimbola seen very close to the door leading into the ward where the Covid-19 patient is being kept.

    In the photo, the Italian man could be seen faintly discussing with Abayomi from where he is isolated. Neither the Commissioner nor Dr. Abimbola was putting on a face mask or anything else from the clothes they were wearing. This sparked fears from some persons who felt officials who attend to the Covid-19 patient should be using some form of protective gears.

    Abimbola explained that the position where himself and the State Commissioner for Health spoke with the index patient at the former place where he was kept, was a safe distance.

    “As you can see me, I am not using any face mask because the distance between me and where the patient is, is more than 2 meters, so I cannot get infected.

    “It is only when I am going to move into the ward or when I am going to move closer to the patient less than 2 meters I am going to put on my full protective gears.

    “We know what we are doing, and there is no need for anybody to panic,” Dr. Abimbola said.

    Watch video below:

    Speaking on why the Covid-19 patient was brought from Ogun State to Lagos, Prof. Abayomi said it was because the patient started his journey to Ogun from Lagos.

    Watch video below:

  • Coronavirus: How Italian citizen passed airport screening without being detected

    The federal government (FG) immediately triggered advanced end-to-end screening for passengers flying into Nigeria, especially from high-risk countries after the Italian citizen, who tested positive of Coronavirus (Covid-19), scaled through health screening at the Lagos airport without being detected.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who made this known on Friday during a first press conference held at the State House in Marina to brief the public on the matter, said investigation showed the virus did not manifest in the patient at the time he passed through the airport.

    Following the reported case of the Italian citizen diagnosed with the infectious viral disease in the State in the early hours of Friday, the Lagos State Government has raised its level of response to Coronavirus (COVID-19) incident, according to Sanwo-Olu.

    The Governor also offered more information on how the patient was identified and efforts currently being made to prevent the spread of the virus.

    The patient, Sanwo-Olu said, is an Ogun State-based expatriate who flew into Lagos from Milan in Italy via Istanbul, Turkey last Monday evening. The Governor said the patient, whose name was not disclosed, remained in stable condition at the bio-security facility in Yaba, Lagos Mainland, where he is being isolated.

    It was gathered that the patient, although, tested positive to COVID-19 virus, is yet to show any respiratory symptoms at press time. He complained of fever and body pain, which prompted his transfer from Ogun State to Lagos for advanced medical investigation.

    Sanwo-Olu said a number of persons, who had physical contact with the patient before the virus was diagnosed, are being traced, while others are currently being examined for possible symptoms.

    Sanwo-Olu said there should be no cause for panic among Nigerians over the reported COVID-19 incident, stressing that measures had been set in motion by the State and Federal governments to contain the spread of the virus across the country.

    He particularly allayed the fear of Lagos residents, saying the two bio-security facilities in the State had the capability to contain the virus.

    “At 10pm on Thursday, I got a call from the Commissioner of Health, who reported possible identification of patient with coronavirus in Ogun State. Immediately, we triggered all levels of bio-security responses and containment facilities. After series of laboratory examination, the patient was confirmed to have tested positive to the virus in early hours of today (Friday) and we immediately alerted the federal authorities, including the President and everybody who needs to be aware.

    “We are in constant touch with the company where the patient was engaged. The management and personnel of the company have been cooperative. Health workers and emergency officials are on the field to track all persons that had physical contacts and interaction with the patient.

    “Our bio-security facilities have been fortified to continue any form of test and contain any other potential case. We are in constant touch with the Federal Ministry of Health to harmonise our response to the incident. For us in Lagos, we are doing anything that needs to be done. The patient is stable and every health intervention required is currently being given to him,” Sanwo-Olu said.

    On how the patient scaled through health screening at the Lagos airport without being detected, Sanwo-Olu said investigation showed the virus did not manifest in the patient at the time he passed through the airport. The incident, he said, prompted the Government to immediately trigger advanced end-to-end screening for passengers flying into Nigeria, especially from high-risk countries.

    The Governor said there would not be prohibition of public gatherings and regular activities in Lagos despite the diagnosed case of COVID-19, pointing out that such measure may give rise to needless panic among the general public. He said the condition of the patient was not “highly contagious” at the moment, adding that the State would only ban outdoor gatherings in the case of escalation in person-to-person transmission of the virus.

    He said: “It is only when there is a high level of escalation that the public can be panicky and this is when we realise that it is getting to person-to-person transmission. As we have said, this isolated case has been contained right from the hospital where he was first admitted and the guesthouse he slept after his arrival in Nigeria. It is when there is a person-to-person infection that we can trigger another level of isolation and curtail public events where large number of people can gather. I don’t think we have gotten to that level yet.”

    Sanwo-Olu also cleared the air on why the patient was transferred to Lagos after the incident was reported in Ogun State, saying the Federal Government only established testing centres to prevent coronavirus in States that have international airports. Lagos, the Governor said, is the only State in the Southwest that has testing centres. He said the State was also considered based on its sophisticated bio-security facilities, which were established during the outbreak of Ebola virus.

    Prof. Abayomi explained how the diagnosis was carried out, following the patient’s complaint of fever and body pain. He said the patient started to show signs of illness on Wednesday afternoon, after which he was presented at the Ogun State-based firm’s hospital where investigation began.

    He said: “Investigation began at the hospital after the patient gave history of his trip to Nigeria. The medical personnel at the company’s hospital kept the patient in isolation overnight and contacted us at the bio-security in Lagos for assistance. We immediately asked them to transfer the case to Lagos. The patient was brought to our high-containment in Yaba on Thursday morning.

    “Immediately the patient arrived, he was put in proper isolation and appropriate tests were conducted on him. Within hours, we received signals that the laboratory tests were showing signs of positivity. At that point, we informed the Federal Minister of Health and Governor Sanwo-Olu, who is the Chief Incident Commander in Lagos.”

    The Health Commissioner said the patient was responding well under a supportive therapy, saying efforts were on to identify all persons that had physical contact with the patient to break the cycle of transmission.

    He disclosed that the State remained prepared to contain potential spread of the virus, observing that Lagos had wrapped up the capacity of its containment facility to 80-bed as a result of the emergency funds released by the Governor.

    Prof. Abayomi said more capabilities were being put in place by the State to deal with increase number of cases. He said aggressive public awareness campaign was going on to sensitise residents on hygiene and activities that can prevent the spread of virus.

  • Breaking: Ambode loses bid to stop probe by lawmakers over purchase of 820 buses

    Justice Yetunde Adesanya of an Ikeja High Court on Thursday struck out a suit filed by former Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos, seeking to stop his probe by the state Assembly over purchase of 820 buses for Bus Reform Project.

    Adesanya ruled that the ad-hoc committee set up to investigate Ambode was a fact-finding committee. According to the judge an investigation is not an indictment.

    “The claimant (Ambode) has not been indicted. An invitation by an agency of government cannot in anyway cause a breach of the threat of the fundamental rights of the claimant.

    “I hereby find that the claimant’s action is an invitation to the court to cripple the legislative exercise of the statutory power of the Lagos State House of Assembly under Section 128 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution.

    “That is not the function of the court, and no court of law should accede such invitation. The claimant’s suit is hereby struck out,” she said.

    Ambode had instituted the civil suit against the State House of Assembly, its Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, and the House Clerk, Mr A.A. Sanni.

    Other respondents are Mr Fatai Mojeed, the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee set up by the House to probe the procurement of the buses, and eight members of the committee.

    More details later…

  • Reddington Hospital patient who tested negative for Coronavirus to be retested

    Reddington Hospital patient who tested negative for Coronavirus to be retested

    The Chinese national who presented ill to a Reddington Hospital in Lagos State, and was tested negative for Coronavirus (Covid-19) on Thursday will be monitored for 14 days and retested.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports a Chinese citizen (names withheld), who arrived in Nigeria from China seven weeks ago presented sick to Reddington Hospital Ikeja, complaining of fever, sparking Covid-19 scare.

    The Lagos State Ministry of Health confirmed the Chinese national has been isolated at Mainland Hospital, and that his blood samples were taken for investigation, which later came out negative.

    However, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said if a suspected case is confirmed, appropriate management will commence but if negative, the patient would still be monitored for 14 days and retested.

    Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Director General of NCDC stated this on Thursday in Abuja, saying that the result of the 11 suspected cases of Covid-19 tested in Nigeria is negative.

    Ihekweazu reassured Nigerians of their safety against Covid-19, revealing that the tests were conducted by the NCDC National Reference Laboratory and Virology Laboratory at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

    “Four laboratories in Nigeria have the capacity to test for the coronavirus. These laboratories are within the NCDC laboratory network and are in contact 24/7. If a new case is confirmed, it will be reported accordingly.

    “We are in close communication with the Lagos State Ministry of Health and other states, and will inform the public once there’s a confirmed case in Nigeria,” the Director General said.

    Ihekweazu assured Nigerians that the NCDC would continue to closely monitor the outbreak globally.

    “We urge Nigerians to disregard rumours and discourage further spread. NCDC will inform the public if a case is reported in Nigeria,” he said.

    The NCDC boss said that when a high-risk traveller with symptoms arrived in the country, he/she would be taken from the airport to an isolation centre and samples would be collected immediately for testing.

    “If confirmed, appropriate management will commence but if negative, he/she would still be monitored for 14 days and retested.

    “When a high risk traveller that is not symptomatic comes into the country, the person is advised to stay at home for 14 days and report immediately if he/she develops symptoms.

    “Furthermore, his contact details are obtained and an official is attached to him/her to monitor him daily for 14 days to see if he develops symptoms.

    “If he develops symptoms within 14 days of arrival in the country, samples would be collected from him for confirmation.

    “If confirmed he/she goes into our isolation centre where he would be managed appropriately,” he explained.

    Ihekweazu described a high-risk traveller as someone who has had contact with a confirmed Covid-19 case or was travelling from China, particularly Wuhan.

    The NCDC boss noted that the Chinese authorities have intensified measures to prevent exportation of Covid-19 such as screening travelers leaving China.

    “In Nigeria, the NCDC conducts daily epidemic intelligence gathering to monitor the spread of the outbreak,” he said.

    He said that the Government of Nigeria through NCDC is working very hard to be better prepared in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak.

    He disclosed that NCDC in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) reviewed strategies to work together in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT to ensure that Nigerians are well informed.

    Besides, he said NCDC has just concluded a training of case management physicians from the five states with international airports in Nigeria; namely Kano, Enugu, Lagos, Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory.

    “This is to build their capacity to manage severe respiratory disease cases,” he said.

    Furthermore, Ihekweazu said that NCDC had revised the national case definition in line with changes in the epidemiology of the outbreak.

    “With ongoing local transmission in countries outside China, the focus had been expanded to include travelers from other countries.”

    He added that with the support of World Health Organisation (WHO), NCDC would carry out a two-day simulation exercise to assess its capacity to respond in the event of an outbreak.

    “This process will allow for a review of existing gaps and rapid implementation of interventions to fill these gaps,” he explained.

    Ihekweazu said it was important for Nigerians to understand where they fit in national preparedness for infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

    He added that health security is a responsibility cut out for all Nigerians, including individuals, healthcare workers, government and the private sector.

    The NCDC director general however appealed to Nigerians to stay away from fake news, pointing out that it is causing panic, harm and lead to waste of resources.

    Ihekweazu therefore advised Nigerians to share only information from verified sources, while the NCDC would continue to keep them informed.