COVID-19: 25 Persons Aboard Flight From Kano To Beirut Test Positive

No fewer than twenty five passengers on a flight that left Kano for Lebanon has tested positive for COVID-19, the Lebanese ministry of health has announced.

The flight which arrived in Lebanon on Wednesday was part of the evacuation exercise embarked on by the middle east country to have its citizens evacuated from foreign nations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. ,

In view of this development, the Lebanon government, in April, implored middle east airlines to begin moving its citizens out of foreign countries.

“Middle East Airlines – Air Liban announces that as of April 5th, 2020 and upon the Lebanese Government’s request, MEA will operate successive repatriation trips to evacuate Lebanese expatriates and nationals from abroad, according to the conditions imposed by the concerned Lebanese Authorities,” a statement by the airline on April 3 read.

 

In line with the directive, among several flights that have taken off between April and May, an aircraft with flight number ME570 took off from Kano to Beirut on May 5, according to a flight schedule provided by Middle East Airlines.

But a statement issued on Wednesday by the ministry of health confirmed that 25 of the passengers on that flight tested positive for COVID-19.

It said the affected passengers will be admitted into a hospital for treatment, while others who tested negative would be quarantined.

The health ministry said if any of the passengers who tested negative exhibits symptoms of COVID-19, the person will be sent to hospital for re-examination.

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“The Ministry of Public Health announces that it has been confirmed that 25 positive cases with COVID-19 were recorded among the passengers on board the flight that arrived from Nigeria,” it said.

“Accordingly, the affected cases will be transferred to the hospital with an emphasis on the application of strict domestic quarantine for negative cases, knowing that they will be followed up daily by the Ministry and whoever shows any symptoms will be referred to the hospital for re-examination.”

According to the ministry, as of 11:30am on Thursday, Lebanon’s total number of COVID-19 patients is 784, of which 25 deaths have occurred.