Nigeria Now Has 8 Confirmed Cases
Detail Travel History Of Each Person’s Being Compiled
FG Bans Flights From USA, UK, China and 10 Others
Suspends Issuance Of Visa On Arriaval To Travellers
TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA
The Federal Government has announced additional five new cases of the dreaded coronavirus disease in Nigeria bringing the total number of confirmed cases to eight (8)
Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja to update Nigerians on the suituation of the virus, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire said all the new five
cases had a travel history to and from the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA)
He however urged Nigerians to remain calm as public health response activities are intensified across the country.
According to him, “The Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) unfortunately confirms 5 new cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria within the last 36 hours, bringing the total number of contirmed cases in Nigeria to 8.
“Of the 5 new positive cases 3 arrived
from the United States, while 2 came in from the United Kingdom. We are still collating infomation on the travellers; 2 of the 3 from the US are Nigerian,
a mother and child, making the 6 week old baby the youngest COviLD-19 patient we have, and the 3rd 1s an American national, who crossed the land border and becomes the first COviD-19 Case not arriving by air. The 2 cases from the UK are Nigerians.
“A detailed travel history of each person is being compiled and contacts currently being traced, to identify persons who have recenty been in contact with anyone. The National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) led by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and supported by partners, is supporting response in the states”, he explained.
He added that , the Federal Government through Federal Ministry of Health is conducting risk assessment to help guide decision making.
He urged citizens not to panic, but allow experts in public health to guide response in a calculated, scientific manner. False information and rumour to cause fear and panic must be
avoided at such times. The COviD-19 cases so far appear to have mild symptoms and are in recovery.
To protect yourselves and your families, he urged everyone to continue to take care and caution as advised.
Government will do the needful to protect Citizens health, he assured.
However, the Presidential Task Force for the Control of Coronavirus (COVID-19), announced the following
Interventions on 1 7th of March: Prohibition of all travel by public servants; Suspension of the visa on arrival policy till further notice; A firm travel advisory against non-essential travel to high burden countries, especially in view of the number of Nigeria who arrived from US and Europe and diagnosed in the past 48 hours with coronavirus infection;
In addition, A requirement that all person returning from overseas self-isolate for observation for 14 days , even if they feel well. NCDC will desseminate information on the practice; Supervised self-isolation, including testing, of persons returning from nation’s with Community transmission of more than 1,000 cases cumulatively, for 14 days by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Port
Health Services; Federal Government will restrict entry to Nigeria of persons from the listed high burden countries with effect from Friday March 20, for a period of 4 weeks; A reminder that citizens maintain hand hygiene and standard respiratory etiquette.
He added that the Federal Ministry of Health through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control will continue to provide accurate and reliable updates as and when they are available, and take available measures to control spread of Infectious disease outbreaks in Nigeria.
Similarly, the Federal Government has banned flights from 13 countries with over 1,000 covid-19 cases domestically.
The countries include China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, United States of America, Norway, United Kingdom, Netherlands & Switzerland
This was disclosed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), through its twitter handle.
The NCDC said the federal government has also suspended the issuance of visa on arrival to travellers from these countries, adding that all travelers returning from these countries prior to the restriction will be in supervised self-isolation, monitored by NCDC and Port Health Services.
