Update: Second Coronavirus case in Nigeria tests Negative

The second confirmed case of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) in Nigeria has tested negative,  Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire,  said on Friday in Abuja.

Ehanire told newsmen that the second case, a contact of the Italian businessman who brought the virus into Nigeria,  who tested positive on March 8, is now testing negative for the virus.

“This means that he has cleared the virus and will be allowed to go home,” the minister said.

The minister added that the index case, the Italian businessman, is clinically stable and has improved and will, therefore, be allowed to go in a few days.

“As at today, 13th March, Nigeria has recorded still just two cases of covid-19 with no death, one case is now negative. The index case is clinically stable and is much improved, and will be discharged early next week,” Ehanire said.

The minister further informed that all contacts of the index case in  Ogun and Lagos will be allowed to go home and rejoin Society after 14 days of follow-up with no symptoms.

Ehanire noted that between 7 Jan and 12 march 2020, a total of 42 people who met the case definition have been screened for covid-19 in six states including Edo, Lagos, Ogun, Yobe, Rivers, Kano and the FCT, out of which 40 tested negative and two were confirmed positive (the index case and the contact of the index case).

The minister also informed that the group of four students and their teacher who flew into Lagos from the USA have tested negative, but will still be in self- isolation for 14 days.

He also informed that following the declaration of the Covid-19 as a pandemic and increasing spread in some countries, the federal government had begun a review of its own case definition.

He, however, said Nigeria would not place a travel ban on any country or place a ban on any activity.

Ehanire said that there would be no need for a travel ban, explaining that other countries taking it are doing it in line with their own situation. He said Nigeria’s situation and risk are low and would not require such measures.

He added that there is also a lot of self -restriction on travel and movement by Nigerians already and the government is also monitoring closely.

On whether the country would ramp up preparedness and response following rapid spread across the globe, the minister said the government would continue to take economic measures, to prevent waste or incur an economic loss for the country.

“The situation decides measures and as for now, we don’t want to take measures that are excessive and incur costs that will go to waste. We want to take measures that are tailor-made. We don’t want to create over-capacity,” the minister said.

On the ongoing cross-border transmission of yellow fever, the minister instructed Nigerians to obtain a yellow fever vaccination and show proof of vaccination before embarking on any international travel and upon return from international travel.