From Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calaba
The Cross River State Government has said it has identified and isolated 10 persons who interacted with a Chinese national who came to Nigeria, particularly Cross River State, with COVID-19.
Speaking to journalists in Calabar, the State Epidemiologist, Dr. Inyang Ekpenyong, said they were identified through contact tracing carried out by health officials.
Dr. Ekpenyong said her team visited the Chinese national’s workplace in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State.
She added that the Chinese national is now responding to treatment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).
“We’ve restricted their movements to their homes, so that they do not spread the symptoms to other persons,” she said.
“As for the Chinese national, he is responding to treatment,” she disclosed.
The epidemiologist reminded members of the public that COVID-19, which broke out six years ago, has not been totally eliminated.
She cautioned people to habitually sanitise their hands, use nose masks, and adhere to other prescriptions by experts.
The Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, who broke the news of the return of COVID-19 on Monday, assured that the state government had already activated all public health mechanisms to contain the outbreak.
The commissioner further said the world remains at risk of another health challenge, as COVID carriers may move from one country to another.
“COVID-19 is not peculiar to Nigeria. But we’re determined to contain it. There’s no cause for alarm,” the commissioner said
