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Coronavirus: About 100 persons in supervised self-isolation — Minister of State, Health
The Minister of State for Health, Senator Adeleke Olurunnimbe Mamora, has given more clarification on the claim by the government that the 100 people said to have had contact with the coronavirus case and have been identified.
In an interview with our correspondent, the minister claimed that out of the 159 passengers aboard the Turkish Airline flight that brought the index case to Nigeria, only 54 persons had been traced and were being followed up by officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Health described as “supervised self-isolation,” a situation where the people are asked to stay at home but are monitored by the officials.
“In addition, The hotel where the man lodged, six staff that had contact with him have also been identified, also 35 members of staff from the company itself, have been identified and are being followed up. Others are drivers, the ambulance drivers and service staff, altogether make up the 100 now.’’
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Speaking further the minister said: “Some of the people the Italian made contact with are said to have travelled; the government has sent an advisory to those states.
“Those who travelled outside the country, if the passengers had left to maybe, the UK, the information will be sent to the WHO office to track down the passengers, wherever they are and let them know that they have been in contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus, and they can do the follow up where ever they are.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Branch Chairman, Dr Saliu Oseni criticised the measures saying “with the level of preparation at different points of entry into the country, it would not be a surprise if Nigeria recorded another case of coronavirus.
The awareness at the entry points is not enough. “If a flight is coming into Nigeria from a Coronavirus-prone area, all the passengers should be aware of the need to engage in self-quarantine for 14 days before you start making contact and if they develop symptoms, they should be provided with numbers to call instead of first going to the hospital.
“Regrettably, nothing of such is at the points of entry into this country; people just enter the country and start associating with people. But if we have dedicated personnel at the port that is guiding travellers on what to do and provide them with contacts to call, some of them will definitely engage in self-quarantine.
But there is nothing of such at the entry points. “The reality is that if people take precaution, the situation can actually be controlled, but I won’t be surprised if we have another case of coronavirus, aside from this Italian.
” Oseni said the country needs to pay more attention to prevention, adding that China and other countries that have equipment readily available were still struggling to contain the virus. But since the government is aware of lapses at the points of entry, I hope and wish they will put the right measures in place.
“We all know that prevention is better than cure. Assuming the Italian had engaged in self- quarantine immediately he arrived in Nigeria, we won’t be in the present situation.
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