Rising Toll: Nigeria records new cases of Coronavirus as the index case recovers

A few hours after the Italian national who brought Coronavirus into Nigeria was discharged, following his recovery, the Federal Ministry of Health has announced 10 new cases of COVID-19 in the country.

In a statement released on Saturday, March 21 by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, all the new cases are Nigerians. Nine of them only returned to the country within the past one week from Canada, Spain, France, Netherlands, and the UK. One case is a close contact of a previously confirmed case.

Dr. Ehanire revealed that the new cases of Coronavirus are spread across different locations in the country.

“Nigeria has recorded 10 new cases of #COVID19 in Lagos and FCT. That is a total of 22 cases in Nigeria: Lagos 16, FCT 3, Ekiti 1 & Ogun 2. [Two] have been discharged. All cases are clinically stable and receiving adequate care,” he shared in a tweet, Saturday afternoon.

“All new cases have mild to moderate symptoms, and are being managed at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital and Infectious Disease Hospital, Lagos,” the NCDC also explained in a tweet.

“Nigeria is experiencing an influx of imported #COVID19 cases by returning Nigerians, emphasizing the importance of self-isolation for a minimum of 14 days even if you feel well,” Dr. Ehanire noted.

By Sunday, March 22, 2020, three more cases of Coronavirus have been confirmed in Lagos, one case in Oyo and one more case in the FCT, bringing the total number of Coronavirus to 27.

“Till date, twenty-seven (27) cases have been confirmed, two cases have been discharged and there has been no death from COVID-19 in Nigeria,” the NCDC disclosed.

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Part of precautionary measures announced earlier by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC required all Nigerians returning from abroad to observe self-isolation for 14 days. Some Nigerians were concerned that lapses in keeping to the instructions will make it difficult to stamp out Coronavirus.

In response, the federal government placed travel restrictions on people from 15 countries with more than 1,000 cases of coronavirus. Visa on arrival policy was also suspended. And to properly monitor people arriving or leaving the country, international flights were restricted to only Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos.

But as from Monday, March 23, all international flights into the country will be suspended.

Religious gatherings exceeding 50 persons have been banned in some states, including Lagos and Ogun, while schools have been ordered to shut down across the country. The National Youth Service Corp, NYSC orientation camps, and the Nigerian Professional Football League, NPFL have been suspended indefinitely.