Coronavirus: Why people think they are screened at international airports- Minister
The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has explained why people don’t see themselves being subjected to rigorous screening at international airports across the country.
At a media briefing in Abuja, Monday, he clarified that the screening is not done manually with hand-held thermal machines.
Special equipment, he said, have been stationed which has the capacity to test people immediately they pass near it and that there are health workers sitting at a distance monitoring the reading of the machine.
The Minister disclosed that isolation centre at the Gwagwalada is still under construction, but that the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Gwagwalada Specialists Hospital, will be used if the need arises.
Ehanire, however, warned the public against creating unnecessary panic or wearing of mask as it is not necessary because the case is still just one.
The minister also cautioned schools to detest from enforcing parents to buy masks for their wards as they have no need for it.
“It is important for Nigerians to focus on facts and not on fear so as not to generate panic. The citizens should also desist from spreading fake news, especially on social media.”
While explaining the situation of the one confirmed case in Lagos, the Minister said: “A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC) is activated at level 3, which is the highest level of response in the country for public health emergencies. This is led by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
“The confirmed case is currently managed at a designated treatment facility for COVID-19 at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Yaba, Lagos.
“NCDC has deployed two Rapid Response Teams to Lagos and Ogun States respectively on February 28. Lagos and Ogun State Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs) are leading contact tracing and other response activities in respective states.”
The Minister said those who contacted the Italian man are under self-supervised isolation and have been provided with temperature monitoring tools.
“Currently, the contact tracing of the index case has identified 19 contacts in Lagos, 29 contacts in Ogun, including the driver that picked him (the Italian) up from the airport. There is no fresh case.
“We are in touch with these contacts who are under self-supervised isolation and the states have provided them with temperature monitoring tools,” he explained.
According to him, the Italian was stable and was seen walking around his room at the medical facility.
