Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has the capacity to contain and prevent further spread of the Coronavirus, the Minister of Health reiterated Friday, urging his compatriots not to panic.
Osagie Ehanire spoke at a press briefing in Abuja Friday, following the report of the first case of the virus in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital early today.
He explained that the inability to detect the Italian citizen at the port of entry was not due to the failure of screening but because the virus was still at the incubation stage when he arrived.
Ehanire said Nigeria would not quarantine people as it is following the guidelines of the World Health Organisation, which prescribe screening at the port of entry and asking people for the travel history, and also self-isolation.
The minister added that Nigeria has joined other African countries to formulate a continental response to the virus threat.
He there will be no travel restrictions whether on Nigerians going out or foreigners coming into the country.
Ehanire confirmed that the government was tracing all the people who made contact with the Italian, who is currently being treated in a Lagos hospital.
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