The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, has warned that only Covid-19 test results obtained from the seven molecular laboratories in Nigeria are valid.
All Covid-19 test results obtained from other laboratories, not matter how sophisticated they are, remain useless.
Ehanire gave the warning at the media briefing organised by President Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 to update Nigerians on the country’s situation in Abuja, Wednesday.
The Minister insisted that there were no Rapid Diagnostic Tests available that have been validated by the World Health Organization, (WHO), because, according to him, they often give unreliable results.
“Unless you have been tested in one of the seven molecular laboratories for COVID-19 in Nigeria, your results are most likely useless,” Osagie stressed.
He, therefore, urged Nigerians to continue to obey all directives and measures instituted by the government, noting that, “it is not the most convenient of situations but with your efforts and that of the Nigerian government, together we can beat COVID-19.”
The Minister explained that: “As of today, April 1, 2020, we have recorded 151 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria. 82 are in Lagos, 28 in FCT, 8 in Oyo, 14 in Osun, 4 each in Ogun and Edo, 3 in Kaduna, 2 each in Bauchi, Ekiti and Enugu and 1 each in Benue, and Rivers States.
“About 70% of those who have tested positive are males. The age range is between 30 and 60 years.
“However, we must note that both men and women of all ages can be affected.
“Till date, 9 persons have been discharged and two deaths recorded from COVID-19 in Nigeria.
“These were cases with severe underlying illnesses aggravated by their COVID-19 infection.”
