By Hassan Zaggi
The contact to the index case of Covid-19 that was earlier confirmed positive, has turned negative, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has disclosed.
He will soon be discharged.
The Minister disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja, Friday.
He, however, disclosed that since January 17 to March 12, “a total of 42 people who met our case definition have been screened for COVID-19 in 6 States including Edo, Lagos, Ogun, Yobe, Rivers, Kano and FCT, out of which 40 tested negative and two were confirmed positive: the index case and a contact of index case, with no deaths.
“The index case is clinically stable and is much improved. Steady progress till early next week will guide the medical team in discharging him.
“The second confirmed case, a contact of the index case is testing negative for the virus, meaning he has cleared the virus and will be allowed to go home.”
Ehanire revealed that a group of 4 children and their teacher recently flew into Lagos from the United States and that prior to their arrival, “Nigeria CDC was informed by US-CDC, that this group had been in the same space with a confirmed case.
“We, therefore, sent these travelers into isolation on their arrival. Tests were done, which came back negative for all of them. They will stay in self-isolation for 14 days.
“As at today, March 13, 2020, Nigeria has recorded still just two confirmed cases of COVID-19. One case is now negative and will be discharged from care, while the other will follow in a few days.
“After 14 days of follow up with no symptoms, all contacts of the index case will be permitted to go home and rejoin society.”
