Briefing reporters on Friday in Abuja, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie
Ehanire, attributed the government’s action to the recommendation of the
World Health Organisation (WHO).
He gave the briefing in company with the Minister of State for Health,
Olorunnimbe Mamora, and top officials of the Federal Ministry of Health,
following the outbreak of coronavirus in Lagos.
“The question of quarantine; the World Health Organisation advises
everybody, all countries that there is no need to put every single
traveller into quarantine,” the minister revealed.
He added, “There are some other countries who choose to do differently
but we followed the guidelines of the World Health Organisation which
states that ‘screen all persons who are entering your country, take
their travel history; if they are coming from a country that has a
burden of coronavirus, invite them for further questioning.”
Ehanire noted that the United Nations agency recommended that newly
arrived travellers should also be advised to stay in isolation for 14
days, in the interest of their family and loved ones.
He stressed that the government has been working very closely with the
WHO – the global body monitoring public health situations and security,
as well as giving health advisory to various nations.
The minister revealed that they have organised training for health
workers on how to enlighten the public and prevent themselves from
getting infected when treating coronavirus patients.
He stated that they were stepping up efforts at the international
airports as preventive measures have been taken even before the first
case was recorded in the country.
Ehanire said, “Our focus is on the four cities with international
airports – Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano; the Enugu Airport has
been closed and I understand it will be opened very soon.
“The WHO warned just a day before that all countries should brace
themselves for possible spread of coronavirus into their states and
since then, we have continued beefing up our own security.”
“The second thing that they said is that coronavirus symptoms may not
manifest with the first several days; the person who gets infected may
not show any signs within the first few days (three to five days).
“So, the gentleman who came here apparently may have gotten infected at
the point but walked through the screening with no symptoms and by the
time he got to his house, he started to feel unwell,” he confirmed.
The minister explained that the patient tested negative for malaria at
the hospital after which the officials contacted the appropriate
authorities, having known his history.
He added that the Italian was referred to the testing centre at the
Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) where he tested positive to
coronavirus.
Ehanire noted that the patient had been isolated from the referral
hospital in a special ambulance where the driver was well-kitted.
He, however, refused to disclose the identity of the patient and the
company he works with, saying that would be done based on seeking their
permission.
The minister stressed that the case recorded was not as a result of
failed screening, stressing that the process went well without any
glitch.