The Federal Ministry of Health has confirmed ten (10) new cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria; three (3) new cases in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and seven (7) new cases in Lagos State. This brings the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria to twenty-two (22).
All ten (10) new cases are Nigerian nationals. Nine (9) of them have travel history to the United Kingdom, Spain, Netherlands, Canada and France. They returned to the country in the last week. The 10th case is a close contact of a previously confirmed case.
The three (3) cases in the FCT are being treated at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada while the seven (7) new cases in Lagos are being treated at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), Yaba. All ten (10) new cases have mild to moderate symptoms and are currently receiving treatment.
As at the 21st of March 2020, twenty-two (22) cases have been confirmed, two cases have been discharged and there has been no death from COVID-19 in Nigeria. The Federal Government of Nigeria remains committed to working with states to provide optimal care for all COVID-19 confirmed cases in the country.
Contact tracing is ongoing to identify all persons who have been in contact with the new confirmed cases. The Port Health Services of the Federal Ministry of Health has heightened screening at all air, land and sea points of entry into Nigeria and adapted the protocols to reflect the travel guidance issued by the Presidential Task Force on Coronavirus.
The National Emergency Operations Centre led by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control supported by partners continues to coordinate response activities and strengthen preparedness capacity across states nationwide. An intensive national risk communications campaign is ongoing to inform Nigerians about COVID-19. The Federal Ministry of Health working closely with states and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 continues to review response activities and institute measures to protect the health of Nigerians.
It is important that Nigerians strictly adhere to social distancing and other necessary precautions in place. These measures include taking all the precautions outlined by the government and the World Health Organization to protect themselves their family.
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