Coronavirus: More troubles for Lagos as Pharmaceutical stores run out of sanitizers, face masks
There seems to be more trouble for Lagos since the confirmation of the first case of the deadly coronavirus in the state early Friday morning.
According to the Commissioner of Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi the virus came into Nigeria through and Italian businessman. The Italian arrived Nigeria on the 25th of February from Milan, Italy for a brief business visit.
“He fell ill on the 26th February and was transferred to Lagos State Biosecurity Facilities for isolation and testing. COVID-19 infection was confirmed by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, part of the Laboratory Network of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. The patient is clinically stable, with no serious symptoms, and is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos,” Abayomi said.
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Health also confirmed the development while pledging to provide all the support needed to combat the deadly infection in Lagos State.
Meanwhile, some pharmaceutical stores in Lagos are running out of stock of sanitizers and face masks as a result of the overwhelming demand that rose to its peak on Friday morning after both the state and federal governments officially confirmed the outbreak of the disease.
A tour of major pharmaceutical stores on the island and mainland axis of Lagos by Newsclickng.com crew revealed that individuals and corporate bodies are not taking prevention against the virus with flimsy approach. Many besieged the stores demanding bulk purchases of the products. “People started trooping in from all angles demanding for bulk purchases of sanitizers and face masks since yesterday but today’s order rose above the bar and we out of stock already. I think people are taking all measures possible against the various in their workplaces and homes,” a mask wearing attendant in one of the popular pharmaceutical stores on the Island told Newsclickng.com.
Newsclickng.com also observed that it is now common sights for banks, public and private offices and other business places to screen people before entry.
“We can’t afford to take the risk. The situation now is reminiscent of what happened during the Ebola outbreak. Whatever measure you see here is as approved by the management of this company. You can’t gain access till you are properly screened and even applied sanitizers on your hands,” one of the directors of a company on the mainland said.
