Why We Can’t Release Coronavirus Index Case Yet: Lagos Govt

The Lagos State government says it can’t release the Coronavirus index case, even though the infected patient is stable because he is still secreting the virus.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, while giving an update on the situation on Wednesday, said the index case remains a danger to the community as long as he is still excreting the virus, he is dangerous to the community.

He said: “The index case is doing fine. We started a new treatment on him two days ago which he is responding to. He is comfortable; he is lonely because he is the only one in the isolation room of 14 beds.

“We test him every day to ascertain whether evidence of virus still exists. The moment we stop seeing the traces of the virus, we will wait for extra three days just to make sure everything is alright because sometimes we may think the virus is cleared and there may be a recurrence. So we have to be very careful. So he will remain with us.”

He added also that, “The gentleman from Ethiopia Airlines, the Chinese man and a lady from Ewekoro all tested negative.”

” Thirty-five passengers were unreachable due to wrong data they provided at the port. The phone number, contact address, next of kin among others were all fake.

“This is worrisome to us but we are trying everything possible to trace them. We are in touch with immigration in case they want to renew their visa. We also have what we called an emergency operation centre where we meet every day at Yaba.

“This emergency team is made up of people from different agencies that work tirelessly to ensure that we have our entire basis covered, from supply to case management, to epidemiology, surveillance. This current situation falls under surveillance and we are trying everything possible to find these missing people.”

“You may not know that you have contact with coronavirus patient because most people on that flight did not know. The sooner we find you the better for you and for everybody else. So its civic responsibility to fill your information correctly.

“If you develop the symptom we can treat it early, and at the same time minimize your exposure to other people. One person now who has filled wrong information but develops the virus may be the source of an outbreak in Lagos. So it’s not a joke, it’s a serious matter.