By Wahala Dey! Italian Citizen Tested Positive To Coronavirus In Lagos
The most dreaded fears of Nigerians have just materialised as the Lagos State Ministry of Health has confirmed the first case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nigeria.
The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, in a statement around 1.40 am on Friday said the government had reported it to the Federal Ministry of Health.
“The case, which was confirmed on the 27th of February 2020, is the first case to be reported in Nigeria since the outbreak in China in January 2020.
“The case is an Italian citizen who entered Nigeria on the 25th of February from Milan, Italy, for a brief business visit.
“He fell ill on the 26th February and was transferred to Lagos State Biosecurity Facilities for isolation and testing. COVID-19 infection was confirmed by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, part of the Laboratory Network of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. The patient is clinically stable, with no serious symptoms, and is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos,” the statement read partly.”
The commissioner said the state government through the Lagos State Ministry of Health, had put measures in place to ensure that any outbreak in the state was controlled and contained quickly in collaboration with the multi-sectoral Coronavirus Preparedness Group, led by the NCDC.
“We have immediately activated the State Emergency Operations Centre to respond to this case and implement firm control measures.
“I wish to assure all Lagosians and Nigerians that we have been strengthening our preparedness since the first confirmation of cases in China. We will use all the resources made available by the state government and the Federal Government to respond to this case.
