The 15-member medical team from China who recently completed
their compulsory 14-day quarantine have all tested negative for
coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Chinese medics will be providing technical support to
Nigeria in its fight against COVID-19, and also sharing
experiential strategies of how their country curtailed the spread
of the virus.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, disclosed this on
Tuesday in Abuja during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task
Force on COVID-19.
According to him, “As for the Chinese persons who came in, the
test has been done after they were quarantined for 14 days. All of
them were negative. After that, the Federal Ministry of Health is
done with that particular case.”
He further explained that a committee of experts will be sworn
in later headed by Professor Tomori, a very well-known virologist
and the other members that will be revealed at the swearing-in.
“The Ministry of Health has up a Ministerial expert advisory
committee, made up of eminent Nigerian virologists, public health
experts, infectious disease and diagnostic experts and others, to
study the evolution and development of the COVID-19 outbreak and
the responses in Nigeria.
“The committee will advise on the national strategy and action
plan, using lessons learned as we go along, and those learned from
strategies in places across the globe. This will help us to
identify and adopt the promising strategies and align our plans
with best practices and advisories,” he said.
Concerning the 40 Health workers that are in quarantine for
testing positive for COVID-19, the Minister did not give any
updates but urged frontline health workers to always use their
personal protective equipment (PPE) when carrying out their
duties.
Ehanire said: “We have always warned that health workers must
use their personal protective equipment. Secondly, if you are not
trained in infection prevention and control, COVID-19 is not for
you as a health worker. It is very risky to underrate the
infectiousness of this virus because it is not like any other
sickness or viral infection that you know.
“That is why we have said only accredited isolation and
treatment centres should be handling this infection. Private
entities that want to participate can apply for accreditation and
be trained and certified Every other person who is doing treatment
either privately or secretly is doing so at their own risk and to
the public.
“I can say quite happily and proudly that the Nigerian Army has
agreed to support isolation centres with security as the need
arises. So we shall be applying for their support in situations
where we need security for all our patients and also for those who
are awaiting results who have been tested.”
The 15-member medical team from China who recently completed
their compulsory 14-day quarantine have all tested negative for
coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Chinese medics will be providing technical support to
Nigeria in its fight against COVID-19, and also sharing
experiential strategies of how their country curtailed the spread
of the virus.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, disclosed this on
Tuesday in Abuja during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task
Force on COVID-19.
According to him, “As for the Chinese persons who came in, the
test has been done after they were quarantined for 14 days. All of
them were negative. After that, the Federal Ministry of Health is
done with that particular case.”
He further explained that a committee of experts will be sworn
in later headed by Professor Tomori, a very well-known virologist
and the other members that will be revealed at the swearing-in.
“The Ministry of Health has up a Ministerial expert advisory
committee, made up of eminent Nigerian virologists, public health
experts, infectious disease and diagnostic experts and others, to
study the evolution and development of the COVID-19 outbreak and
the responses in Nigeria.
“The committee will advise on the national strategy and action
plan, using lessons learned as we go along, and those learned from
strategies in places across the globe. This will help us to
identify and adopt the promising strategies and align our plans
with best practices and advisories,” he said.
Concerning the 40 Health workers that are in quarantine for
testing positive for COVID-19, the Minister did not give any
updates but urged frontline health workers to always use their
personal protective equipment (PPE) when carrying out their
duties.
Ehanire said: “We have always warned that health workers must
use their personal protective equipment. Secondly, if you are not
trained in infection prevention and control, COVID-19 is not for
you as a health worker. It is very risky to underrate the
infectiousness of this virus because it is not like any other
sickness or viral infection that you know.
“That is why we have said only accredited isolation and
treatment centres should be handling this infection. Private
entities that want to participate can apply for accreditation and
be trained and certified Every other person who is doing treatment
either privately or secretly is doing so at their own risk and to
the public.
“I can say quite happily and proudly that the Nigerian Army has
agreed to support isolation centres with security as the need
arises. So we shall be applying for their support in situations
where we need security for all our patients and also for those who
are awaiting results who have been tested.”