The Lagos State Government announced today that it is now tracking about 1,300 contacts of the confirmed COVID-19 patients, as the State and national numbers continue to gallop.
At a press briefing on Thursday, Prof. Akin Abayomi, the State Commissioner for Health, while providing an update on the COVID-19 situation in Lagos, reported that four new cases have been confirmed in the State, bringing the total number to eleven.
Abayomi said that 19 people were tested for COVID-19 on Wednesday, with four out of them testing positive to the virus, adding that they had been isolated for treatment at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba.
According to him, two of the newly confirmed cases came into Lagos from France on a Turkish Airline TK 1830 on 14th March, and from Frankfurt on Lufthansa Airline flight number LH568 on 13th March.
Given this instance, Abayomi averred that the state government had immediately commenced the tracking of 1,300 people who were contacts of the confirmed cases.
Providing background information about the newly confirmed cases, Abayomi said one of the four new cases is a woman who had contact with the Nigerian woman who returned from UK and currently receiving treatment for testing positive.
“The second new case is a female who returned from France on March 14 on a Turkish Airline TK 1830,” the commissioner said.
He said that the third case is a Nigerian male in his 50s who had not travelled anywhere, but tested positive to the virus.
Abayomi added that the fourth new case is a Nigerian male who arrived in Lagos from Frankfurt on Lufthansa Airline flight number LH568 on March 13.
He said that more tests were still ongoing with some suspected cases, while appealing to passengers on the two flights to self-isolate themselves and contact the government.
“The best way to slow the rate is to halt movement of the virus from person to person,” Abayomi said.
All our international airports should be closed to both entry and departures to stop further spread. State and Federal Governments to also restrict contacts by closing down public places and prohibit assembly points till further notice. Prevention is better than cure. May the Almighty Allah come to our rescue. Aamin