Nigeria has recorded the first case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Lagos State. The case was confirmed on the 27th of February 2020 and is the first case to be reported in Nigeria since the beginning of the outbreak in China in January 2020.
The case is an Italian citizen who works in Nigeria and returned from Italy to Lagos, Nigeria on the 25th of February 2020. He was confirmed by the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. The patient is clinically stable, with no serious symptoms, and is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is coordinating a multi-sectoral technical group that is assessing and managing the risk of importation to Nigeria.
Safety measures have been put in place to protect the health of Nigerians. The NCDC has set up three Coronavirus testing laboratories in priority states namely:
1. NCDC National Reference Laboratory, Abuja.
2. Lagos State University Teaching Hospital
3. Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital
How to Stay Safe From Coronavirus in Nigeria:
• Wash your hands regularly with soap under running water.
• Cover your mouth and nose properly with a handkerchief or tissue paper when sneezing and/or coughing. You may also cough into your elbow if a handkerchief is not available.
• Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.
• Avoid self-medication, report to the nearest health facility when you experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms.
• Healthcare workers are always advised to observe standard infection prevention and control measures when attending to patients and to take a travel history
Always remember to check the information source before sharing; misinformation can cause more harm.
NCDC Toll-free Number: 0800-970000-10
SMS: 08099555577
WhatsApp: 07087110839
