The much dreaded COVID -19
otherwise known as Coronavi-
rus is now in Lagos.
This was confirmed last Thurs-
day in Lagos and promptly reported to offi-
cials of the Federal Ministry of Health.
The case is an Italian citizen who entered
Nigeria on the 25th of Feburary from Mi-
lan, Italy for a brief business visit. He fell ill
on the 26th February and was transfered to
Lagos State Biosecurity Facilities for isola-
tion and testing. COVID-19 infection was
confirmed by the Virology Laboratory of
the Lagos University Teaching Hospital,
part of the Laboratory Network of the Ni-
geria Centre for Disease Control.
We gathered however that the patient is
clinically stable, with no serious symptoms,
and is being managed at the Infectious Dis-
ease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.
In a release, Prof Akin Abayomi, Com-
missioner for Health, Lagos State, assured
Lagosians and indeed Nigerians that ade-
quate measures were being taken to ensure
that any outbreak in Lagos is controlled
and contained quickly in collaboration
with the multi-sectoral Coronavirus Pre-
paredness Group, led by the Nigeria Centre
for Disease Control (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 Nige-
rians 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 and the Federal
Government to respond to this case.”
While revealing that the ministry was
working to identify all the contacts of the
patient, since he arrived in Nigeria, the
Commissioner said that most people who
become infected may experience only a
mild illness and recover easily, but it can
be more severe in others, particularly the
elderly and persons with other underlying
chronic illnesses.
He implored all Lagosians to take care
of their health and maintain hand and
respiratory hygiene to protect themselves
and others, including their own families,
following the precautions below:
- Regularly and thoroughly wash your
hands with soap and water, and use alco-
hol-based hand sanitiser.
- Maintain at least 1 & half metres (5
feet) distance between you and anyone
who is coughing or sneezing. - People coughing persistently or sneez-
ing should stay indoors or keep a social
distance, but not mix with a crowd.
- Ensure that you and people around
you follow good respiratory hygiene
by covering mouths and noses with a
handkerchief or tissue while sneezing or
coughing. You can also sneeze or cough
into your sleeve at the bent elbow.Then
dispose of the used tissue immediately.
- Stay indoors if you feel unwell with
symptoms, such as fever, cough and dif-
ficulty in breathing. Please call Lagos
State Emergency hotlines 08023169485
or 08033565529 or 08052817243 which
are available day and night.
- Stay informed on the latest develop-
ments about COVID-19 through official
channels on TV and Radio, the Social
Media, including the Lagos State Minis-
try of Health, NCDC and Federal Minis-
try of Health
