Ekiti State government has confirmed that a patient tested positive to coronavirus as earlier announced on Wednesday by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire.
The government said the Ekiti State Taskforce on COVID, headed by Governor Kayode Fayemi, confirmed that the 38-year-old patient is a Nigerian of Ekiti origin.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, the victim was suspected to have been infected while driving a 27-year-old American Caucasian who visited Nigeria from Richmond, Virginia, USA in the company of his caregiver, a 31-year-old female Nigerian of Ekiti origin.
Giving further details, the statement said, ”The American and his Nigerian female caregiver, arrived Nigeria on March 3, 2020 through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos, while preliminary investigations revealed that the pair were driven by the confirmed case to Ibadan, where they stayed for two weeks, and arrived Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State March 13, 2020.
”A day after their arrival, the American fell ill and he was taken to a private hospital where he was referred to a tertiary hospital. Unfortunately, he died from complications of the illness.
”The hospital authorities alerted the state Taskforce and samples were taken from the American as well as his two companions. The test for the male driver came back positive; the test for the female caregiver came back negative while the test for the American was inconclusive.”
It added that the confirmed case had been quarantined in the state Isolation Centre, while the caregiver who tested negative is presently under observation in self isolation, in line with the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) protocols.
The confirmed case was also said to be very stable and not showing any symptoms, while NCDC would repeat the test for the caregiver who tested negative.
Meanwhile, the state said it has commenced the process of contact tracing, working with the Federal Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) and had already contacted the Oyo State Government since it was recorded that the trio stayed in Ibadan for two weeks.
Yaya-Kolade, therefore called for calm and urged Ekiti residents to observe the prevention steps that had been publicised, noting that the likely index case was on a short visit and had not been in Ekiti State for up to 72 hours before his visit.
”The Government of Ekiti State will continue to update the public on new developments as necessary in our commitment to ensuring the safety and protection of all Ekiti residents,” the statement added.
The Hope
