In an effort to prepare for Coronavirus (2019 nCov), which is currently ravaging China, the Lagos State Government has built an Emergency Operation Centre, which has been set up at Mainland Hospital in collaborationwith Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

This came as the officials of the Britannia Hospital in Lekki refuted claims of a suspected case of nCov in its facility; this is even as the National Health Commission of China on Saturday disclosed that the total number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus has climbed to 11,791, including 259 deaths and 243 persons.

However, based on efforts to ensure prevention in Nigeria’s most populous state, anyone who just comes back from China or any region that is endemic with nCov should observe self-quarantine for at least 14 days.

The social media has been inundated with information to the effected that a Nigerian employee of one just came back from China.

However, regarding the claimed suspected case in Lekki, the Medical Officer of Health of Eti-Osa spoke with one Dr. Ogedengbe in Britannia Hospital who revealed the following:

The management of the company sent him to the hospital to be sure of his clinical state.

According to a statement: “The employee was said to be apparently well with non-symptoms of coronavirus.”

However, “He was asked to watch for any of the symptoms of nCov such as fever and respiratory symptoms and report to the hospital if there is any while the Medical Officer of Health asked the hospital to continue follow up.”

Meanwhile, the death toll from the nCov in China now stands at 259.

All the deaths occurred within China and the majority were in Hubei province, where the virus originated.

Almost 12,000 cases have been confirmed and a small proportion of those – around 100 – have been identified outside China. The United Kingdom (UK), United States (US), Russia and Germany have all confirmed cases in recent days.

Back in Nigeria, a statement from the Medical Guild, which was part of the meeting on Friday, between the Lagos State Ministry of Health and the NCDC, disclosed that two isolation wards have been prepared at the Mainland Hospital with a capacity for further extension through the use of tents, which are available.

In a situation of an overwhelming number of cases, the Ministry of Health in Lagos, said, six general hospitals have been designated for possible management as tents will be set up.

They include Isolo, Ikorodu, Gbagada, Alimosho, Epe and Badagry General Hospitals and the medical directors of these various hospitals were aware of the plan.

The statement from Medical Guild showed that discussions have been held with the Medical Directors of the six hospitals to ensure provision of ‘Protocols’ for the management of Lassa fever.

In the meantime, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for rational measures for protection and prevention against the coronavirus epidemic.

Director General, WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that the measures deployed by China are not only protecting its people, but also protecting the people of the world. The world body said it was important not to instil too much fear into people but to have them lead a normal life as good as possible in these circumstances.

In a message of solidarity and goodwill, the European Union said it recognised the measures China had taken to contain the outbreak, and admires its quick action in dealing with the epidemic.

Similarly, Pakistan has affirmed support for China in the fight against the virus.

And in another development, the FCT Police Command reportedly detained five journalists while they were reporting on the Lassa fever in the territory.

According to a statement from the Management of TheNigerian News, signed by Lawrence, Audu, the journalists were arrest in Wuse District of Abuja. (Sunday Telegraph)

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