Coronavirus: Lagos takes measures as 170 die globally

LAGOS, Nigeria – The Lagos State Government has advised all  travelers returning from China or exposed to a traveler from China or any country where cases of novel Corona virus have been reported to observe self-quarantine on arrival in Lagos.

The Lagos State Government spoke as representatives of the Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China reported on the current situation and the public health measures being taken to tackle the rising tide of incidents of Coronavirus.

According to the health ministry, there are now 7711 confirmed and 12167 suspected cases throughout the country. Of the confirmed cases, 1370 are severe and 170 people have died and 124 people have recovered and been discharged from hospital, the Chinese authority toll the second emergency gathering of World Health Organisation(WHO).

The WHO Secretariat has also said that there are now 83 cases in 18 countries. Of these, only 7 had no history of travel in China. There has been human-to-human transmission in 3 countries outside China. 

The Lagos State government made the revatlation in a public advisory issued today through the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi noted that unsupervised self-quaranine for travelers is the first step in containing Coronavirus in the State. According to Abayomi, self-quarantine is a public health strategy used to separate and isolate individuals who may have been exposed to a communicable disease. He added that the aim is to protect individuals who may have been exposed and the general public. 

“During unsupervised self-quarantine, we expect persons concerned to respond to the State advise and act like responsible citizens. You are required to restrict your movement to your home, monitor yourself closely, report any symptoms that may develop to the Ministry of Health on the contact numbers provided and engage in good personal hygiene”, Abayomi said.

While giving further details on the self-quarantine strategy, the Commissioner explained that persons observing self-quarantine must stay at home during the whole duration of the self-quarantine, and must avoid workplace, minimize contact with family members, ensure no contact with visitors, refrain from attending or going to public or social functions and must not ride or fly in any mode of public transportation.

“You must monitor yourself closely and diligently during the self-quarantine period, to identify if you develop symptoms including, but not limited, to headache, cough, sore throat, fever, chest pain, chills, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties and pneumonia”, he added

Abayomi stressed the need for citizens observing self-quarantine who develop any of the aforementioned symptoms to immediately contact the Ministry of Health on 08023169485, 08033565529 and 08052817243 for further instructions.

“Novel Corona Virus Infection has an incubation period of 5 to 14 days. This means if you have been in China or any other country that is now experiencing Corona virus transmission from person to person, you may become unwell after a period of 5 to 14 days of your return. If you feel unwell or develop symptoms, immediately contact the Ministry of Health on the numbers provided to communicate how you are feeling”, he said.

The Commissioner who also dismissed a misinformation making the rounds especially on social media that a case of novel CoronaVirus has been recorded in the State said Lagos State has no suspected or confirmed cases of Corona Virus infection.

He urged citizens to disregard the misinformation as well as any other information about the virus that did not emanate from his office, the State Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Health or the National Centre for Disease Control.

“I would like to reassure Lagosians that our vigilance levels are very high and we are putting more measures in place to safe guard the State. Through our strategic initiatives with Federal Authorities we are putting higher levels of surveillance into effect at all international airports in Nigeria including Lagos to ensure that we minimize the threat of entry of any cases of Corona Virus”, Abayomi stated.