June 1, 2020, a healthcare worker holds a Covid-19 test kit. TARSO
SARRAF / AFP
The Lagos State government said on Friday that one
hundred and eighty-one students and staff of a private boarding
school in the Lekki area of Lagos state have tested positive for
COVID-19.
Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, who broke the news
today, said 181 students and staff members of a private school
located in a suburb of Lekki tested positive to COVID19 during
surveillance and case investigation in the school.
Giving details of the investigation, Abayomi explained that a
14-year-old SS1 female student fell ill on the 3rd of October and
was sent home after receiving first aid at the school. He added
that the student subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 on
Tuesday 6th of October in one of the accredited private labs in
Lagos.
The Commissioner assured Lagosians that the State government,
through the incident commands system, has the situation under
control, stressing that appropriate steps have been taken to
contain the spread and manage the positive cases. He noted that all
parents have been contacted and counselled via a family zoom call
on 13th October to further allay their fears and communication
between school authorities and parents continues. The zoom call was
attended by the commissioners for Health and Education and all
relevant responders and stakeholders.
“There are a total lockdown and movement restriction in the
school with the Epidemiology and Surveillance Pillar of the EOC and
Ibeju-Lekki LGA State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer
(DSNO) reporting at the school daily to conduct a further
investigation while positive students and staff have been isolated
on the premises and given the COVID-19 home-care treatment packs
and are being monitored in isolation within the school
premises,”
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Abayomi said.
The Commissioner stated that the school authorities supported by
the State Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education are
following the COVID-19 guidelines as set out by the government.
According to him, “students are to be isolated in the School
premises and if unwell will be admitted in one of the accredited
isolation centers in Lagos. Students are discouraged from going
home to avoid infecting members of their families”.
The Ministry of Health is working closely with the Ministry of
Education to jointly manage this minor but significant outbreak in
this boarding school. “I am pleased to announce that all the
infected students are predominantly asymptomatic while some have
very mild symptoms, no student has required hospitalization,”
he said.
“Members of the Emergency Operation Center and our
counterparts in the Ministry of Education have been deployed to the
school to provide strategic interventions and support to the
school. This includes psychosocial support, infection prevention
control, medical monitoring, and risk communication experts to
further enlighten and educate affected people,” Abayomi
noted.
The Commissioner reemphasized the need for citizens to practice
the highest standard of personal and environmental hygiene,
stressing that use of face mask in public places, proper
handwashing and hand hygiene practice, and maintaining physical
distance will help prevent the spread of the infection.
“COVID-19 is still very much with us and we must strive to
prioritize the safety of all, including students and teachers, by
adhering strictly to prevention protocols and guidelines issued by
the government to prevent its spread,” Abayomi said.
He urged Lagosians to call the 08000EKOMED or 08000356633
toll-free line if they notice any sign or symptoms of COVID-19,
which include fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, or loss of taste
or smell.
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