Coronavirus Patient To Be Discharged Soon – Health Minister

Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire says that the Italian man, the index case of Coronavirus in Nigeria, will be discharged soon.

The Minister disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during a conference with the diplomatic community about measures taken by the Federal Government to tackle the spread of Covid-19 in Nigeria.

Dr Ehanire stressed that there are only two confirmed cases in Nigeria as of now, says the Federal Government has not placed any travel ban on any country.

He, however, warned Nigerian citizens from traveling to endemic countries including China, Japan, Italy, South Korea, and Iran.

He added that returnees from those countries will be quarantined for 14 days to ensure the safety of citizens.

The conference with the diplomatic community is hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama.

Also in attendance is the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Mr Chikwe Ihekweazu, officials of the Nigeria immigration services and members of the diplomatic corps.

This according to him includes the index case and the second who was a primary contact of the index case.

The 44-year-old Italian citizen was confirmed to have the COVID-19 after series of tests were carried out by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital in February.

The Commissioner of Health in Lagos, Professor Akin Abayomi had earlier disclosed that the health of the Coronavirus patient was improving.

He said this on February 29 while addressing journalists and giving an update on the patient who was being managed at the Mainland Hospital in Yaba, Lagos,

Professor Abayomi urged the residents not to panic and assured them that the government was putting necessary measures in place to curb the spread of the virus.