The Federal Ministry of Health has confirmed 10 new cases of the coronavirus disease in Nigeria. In a statement on Saturday, the Ministry said three cases are in Abuja while the remaining seven in Lagos.
“This brings the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria to 22,” the statement added. The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, in the statement, said: “All 10 new cases are Nigerian nationals: 9 of them have travel history to Canada, France the Netherlands, Spain and United Kingdom.
“They returned to the country in the past 1 week. The tenth case is a close contact of a previously confirmed case.
“The three cases in the FCT are being treated at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, UATH, Gwagwalada, while the 7 new cases in Lagos are being treated at the Infectious Disease Hospital, IDH, Yaba.
“All the 10 new cases have mild to moderate symptoms and are currently receiving treatment.” It was learnt that the index case is an official of the Federal Inland Revenue Service and was one of the passengers on British Airways’ flight that landed on March 13, 2020.
It was also learnt that two other cases of COVID-19 were confirmed. A medical doctor had said that the three patients had been moved to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital.
He said, “The bad news is that three samples from the FCT (Federal Capital Territory) suspected cases tested positive for coronavirus.
“We have got in touch with the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital and we are moving them immediately.
“We will give more details as soon as possible concerning their flights, contact tracing and other protocols.
“COVID-19 is in Abuja now. One of the passengers on the British Airways’ flight works with the FIRS and he is among those who tested positive.
“His wife tested negative. We are hoping that all biometric sign in at the FIRS headquarters in Wuse Zone 5 stops with immediate effect.”
