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The CrCross Riveross River State government says it has identified and isolated 10 persons who interacted with the Chinese national who reimported COVID-19 into Nigeria.
Speaking with Daily Trust, the state epidemiologist, Dr Inyang Ekpenyong, said they were identified during contact tracing carried out by health officials.
She said her team visited the Chinese national’s work place in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state.
Ekpenyong added that the Chinese national is now responding to treatment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
“We’ve restricted their movements to their homes, so that they do not spread the symptoms to other persons.”
“As for the Chinese national, he is responding to treatment,” she disclosed.
The epidemiologist reminded members of the public that COVID-19, which broke out six years ago, had not been totally eliminated.
She cautioned people to habitually sanitize their hands, use nose masks, and adhere to other prescriptions by experts.
The commissioner for health in the state, Dr Henry Egbe Ayuk, broke the news of the return of COVID-19, on Monday, but assured that the state government had already activated all public health mechanisms to contain the outbreak.
The commissioner said the world was at risk of another health challenge, since COVID carriers may move from one country to another.
“COVID-19 is not peculiar to Nigeria. But we’re determined to contain it. There’s no cause for alarm,” he had said.
Earlier, the Cross River State government announced the confirmed case during a press conference in Calabar.
Also Read: Chinese tests positive to COVID-19 in Cross River
The state Commissioner for Health, Henry Ayuk, said the case involves a 53-year-old Chinese national working with Lafarge in Akamkpa Local Government Area.
According to him, the patient arrived in Nigeria on 17 March and later developed symptoms, which worsened at a medical facility before he was transferred to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
“At the UCTH, his samples were taken and all protocols followed; it was subsequently confirmed that he had symptoms of COVID-19,” Mr Ayuk said.
He noted that the state has strengthened its health system to manage outbreaks and urged residents not to panic.
She added that contact tracing and line listing of individuals who may have been exposed to the patient are ongoing.
Ms Ekpenyong said the incubation period for COVID-19 is typically between two and 14 days, noting that investigations are ongoing to determine where the infection may have been contracted.
The World Health Organization coordinator in the state, Yewande Olatunde, also urged residents to remain vigilant, stressing that the virus is still in circulation globally.
Dailytrust
