Three of the returnees recently evacuated from Dubai have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, Professor Akin Abayomi, announced this on Sunday via his Twitter handle.

He said the evacuees tested positive following a test conducted on them and have been admitted to the COVID-19 care centre for appropriate treatment protocols.

According to Professor Abayomi, the state will continue to adhere strictly to quarantine protocols and enforce necessary precautionary measures in order to contain the spread of the pandemic.

He appealed to the residents of the state, particularly those who recently returned to the country to cooperate with the government’s COVID-19 response team at all times.

#COVID19Lagos Alert🔊

3 of the returnees recently evacuated from Dubai have tested positive for #COVID19 infection following #COVID19 test conducted on them.

Those affected have been admitted to @followlasg #COVID19 care centre for appropriate treatment protocols. pic.twitter.com/BTg9ELLjsz

— Prof. Akin Abayomi (@ProfAkinAbayomi) May 17, 2020

I again urge Lagos residents and particularly those who recently returned to the country to cooperate with our #COVID19 response team as may be desirable at all times and in all circumstances.

Let’s continue to #StaySafe #ForAGreaterLagos

— Prof. Akin Abayomi (@ProfAkinAbayomi) May 17, 2020

This comes barely a day after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced 176 new COVID-19 infections in the country.

In a late-night tweet on Saturday, the NCDC said 95 of the cases were in Lagos, 31 in Oyo, 11 in Abuja, eight each in Niger and Borno states, and six in Jigawa.

Kaduna also reported four new cases, three in Anambra, two in Edo, Rivers, Nasarawa and Bauchi States, as well as one each in Benue and Zamfara States.

A breakdown of the figures by regions shows that Lagos in the South West has the highest with 2,373 cases of COVID-19, followed by Kano in the North West with 761.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the North Central region has the third-highest tally in the country with 397, just as Bauchi in the North East has 212, Edo in the South South has 95, and Enugu in the South East has 12 cases.

This brings the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country to 5,621 with 1,472 patients discharged and 176 deaths across 34 states and the FCT. (Channels TV)

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