Lagos Hospital responds to reports of confirmed Coronavirus case

Group Medical Director of the Reddington Hospital, Lagos, Dr. Olutunde Lalude, has debunked reports of a Chinese National testing positive to Coronavirus in the Hospital.

Lalude said the Chinese national had arrived Nigeria about Seven weeks ago, and might not have had contact with a carrier of the virus. Lalude added that though the Chinese patient, who had fever, has been isolated and blood samples sent to Lagos State authorised virology laboratory for analysis and diagnosis, the patient has not been diagnosed with Coronavirus disease.

Lalude said: “In the early hours of Wednesday, February 26, 2020, a Chinese national presented to Reddington Hospital, Ikeja complaining of fever. Following standard protocol it was ascertained that he had arrived in Nigeria from China seven weeks ago and had not been in contact with anyone else who might have coronavirus.

“As a precautionary measure, staff immediately isolated him in accordance with the hospital’s standard operating procedure for potential coronavirus patients.

“The state public health authorities were promptly informed and involved. Despite the risk being assessed to be relatively low according to the currently available science regarding incubation period, blood samples were taken using full prescribed precautions and sent to the Lagos State authorised virology laboratory for analysis and diagnosis.

“The results of the tests will be available tomorrow. The patient has been transferred to the Infectious Disease Hospital while the results of the tests are awaited. It is to be emphasised that the risk is thought to be low and the patient has not been diagnosed with Coronavirus disease,” he said.