… Strengthens surveillance at P’Harcourt Int’l Airport
Blessing Iruoma, Port Harcourt
Following the reported case of coronavirus in Lagos State, the Rivers state Ministry of Health has assured that there is no case of the virus in the state.
Director, Planning, Research and Statistics of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Chinwe Atata, who gave the assurance during a press briefing at the Public Health Emergency Operational Centre of the ministry, Port Harcourt, said the ministry has strengthened surveillance at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa and would place all asymptomatic travellers coming from countries that have already been impacted by the virus on self isolation and closely monitor them.
Dr. Atata who also said a treatment centre has been mapped out for the corona virus, dismissed insinuations that the State Ministry of Health cannot contain infectious disease spread because the Ministry is yet to get a commissioner and a Permanent Secretary.
READ ALSO: UPDATED: Osinbajo, Gowon, Govs preach humility in leadership
She called on Rivers residents to always maintain five meters distance from people who are sneezing and coughing calling on health facilities to maintain a very strict infection control system.
She stated: “Following the confirmation of the first case of COVID – 19 in Lagos, Nigeria, it has become imperative to brief you on the state of preparedness and necessary preventive behaviour we should adopt in the interest of Public Health Safety.
“The Rivers State Ministry of Health is working in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health (especially the Ports health services), the National Centre for Disease Control and other relevant stakeholders to ensure maximum surveillance at all international entry points in the State.
“Surveillance at the International Airport Omagwa has been strengthened with multiple layers of screening from inflight assessment to the use of thermal cameras for early detection of suspected cases, as well as secondary screening for selected passengers.
“So far and for the avoidance of doubt, there is no case of COVID-19 in Rivers State”, Atata declared.
