𝐂’𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃-𝟏𝟗: 𝐍𝐂𝐃𝐂 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬

By George OPARA

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the Cross River State Government have initiated a process to monitor and identiy individuals who have been in close contact with Chinese national confirmed a single case of COVID-19 in the state.

It also deploys emergency response measures while assuring residents there is no cause for panic.

In a statement released on Tuesday night, the NCDC said the confirmed case had been isolated and was being managed in line with national treatment guidelines.

“The patient is in stable condition and responding to care,” the agency stated.

Spear News earlier reported that the Commissioner for Health, Henry Ayuk, had confirmed the case involving a 53-year-old Chinese expatriate, who
arrived Nigeria about a month ago and works in a company at Akamkpa Local Government Area,” Ayuk said.

The patient, however, initially presented mild symptoms and was later admitted to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, where samples were collected and the infection confirmed.

“The patient is currently receiving care at the state’s designated isolation and treatment centre and is responding well to treatment,” he added

Also, the commissioner explained that the government delayed public announcement until diagnostic protocols were completed was to avoid misinformation.

“The state is safe. There is no cause for alarm, but we must all play our part in preventing the spread,” Ayuk said.

The NCDC noted that, following confirmation, coordinated response measures have been activated in collaboration with the state Ministry of Health and development partners.

“Following confirmation of the case, the Cross River State Ministry of Health, in coordination with NCDC and with support from partners, has activated response measures, including contact tracing, surveillance, and infection prevention and control,” the statement read.

But Health authorities said all identified contacts were being actively monitored, with no indication of further spread.

“All identified contacts are being followed up appropriately, and there is no evidence at this time of widespread transmission,” the NCDC added.