Coronavirus: We’re in contact with 55 out of 148 passengers aboard flight with infected Italian – FG

The Federal Government has said it is now in contact with 55 of the passengers on board the aircraft that conveyed to Nigeria the Italian who tested positive to coronavirus.

A total of 148 people were on board the Turkish Airline that conveyed the Italian who was on a short business trip to Lagos from Milan, Italy.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and port health services of the Federal Ministry of Health were monitoring the temperature and possible appearance of symptoms of 55 of the 148 passengers on the manifest of the said flight.

He said, however, that none of the passengers under watch had exhibited any symptom.

Ehanire said: “Up till today, there have been no symptoms. We are also trying to look out for others and we hope every passenger on that Turkish Airline who have not yet been contacted will contact the NCDC on 0800970001 – 10. They should also continue to self-isolate.

“Multi-sectoral emergency operation centre led by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) continues to coordinate national response activities.

“Also, the national rapid response teams are supporting Lagos and Ogun states with the contact-tracing and other activities.”

Earlier in the week, the minister had expressed worries that some people gave telephone numbers that did not work or were switched off.

He said some others, particularly new arrivals in Nigeria who were yet to register with any phone company, might not have access to telephone.

The minister added: “We are following up with 61 contacts of the index case; 21 in Lagos and 40 in Ogun State.

“The contacts are under supervised self-isolation and states have provided them with temperature monitoring tools. All of them have remained symptom-free so far.

“Between 7th of February and 5th of March, 2020, a total of 21 suspected cases were reported across four states in Nigeria, namely – Lagos, Ogun, FCT, and Kano. The index case we have in Lagos is stable, symptoms are mild and is being treated at the infectious disease hospital in Yaba, Lagos.

“There is still only one confirmed case of COVID-19 in Nigeria, which is the index case, and no death.

“There were three new suspected cases between the 4th of March and 5th of March, 2020; out of these, two cases were negative and one result is pending.”