By Fola James
On Wednesday, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire somehow aggravated the fear of the deadly coronavirus in the country after announcing five new cases of the novel pandemic, increasing the national number to eight.
Four new cases were discovered in Lagos, while Ekiti state recorded its index case, Ehanire said at a briefing in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Among the new cases are a mother and a child who have now been quarantined.
Even though the number of new infection has declined in China, where the disease emanated, same cannot be said of the United States of America, USA and Europe whose new cases have grown significantly, the number of daily deaths in Italy for instance, has reached over 500 on Wednesday.
Also, Iran is seriously battling to contain the virus that has killed several top government officials in the country.
But when the fear of the virus appears to have reached a tipping point, Kano has now become Nigeria’s beacon of hope after three persons initially suspected of carrying the virus tested negative.
The cheery news from Kano, watchers of recent events say, is what Nigerians needed at this time of the global health emergency.
The Lagos state government had announced emergency measures such as embargo on public religious worship as well as closing down public and private schools, to contain the virus from spreading.
The state has one of the three National testing centers for corona virus.
Similarly, contiguous state Ogun also followed suit by restricting social gatherings, which Governor Dapo Abiodun said was necessary to save lives.
But Aminu Tsanyawa, Kano state commissioner of health, said yesterday evening that all three suspected cases of coronavirus in the state tested negative.
The state is now free of corona virus, the commissioner told newsmen.
As part of measure to build confidence, Tsanyawa disclosed that the government has started sensitizing residents more of the danger posed by the virus and what the government is doing to stop its spread.
The ministry has started deploying manpower and facilities, intensified surveillance in all strategic points of the state to combat any emergency, he stated.
He added that the government is intensifying surveillance and emergency preparedness and response committee to detect any suspected case for prompt action.
He said the state has invested in testing equipments to screen visitors and resident suspected of carrying the virus.
Tsanyawa said “Let me say we don’t have any confirmed case of COVID-19 in Kano. Against those spreading rumour of the virus in Kano, I can confirm to you that we have only three suspected cases and as we speak, the three suspects have tested negative after undergoing test.
I have the privilege to inform you that since the outbreak of the disease in Lagos, the Kano state government has swung into immediate action to ensure that COVID-19 is prevented in Kano.”
He highlights government’s response to the emergency.
“Part of the measures put in place is the conduct of state emergency preparedness and response committee meeting and development of incident action plan as well as activation of rapid response team.
These were put in place to manage surveillance and detect possible case and subsequent response.
Apart from that, we are engaging the traditional and religious institutions to sensitize the public about the danger and the need to take precautionary measures.
We are training our health personnel in tertiary, secondary and primary health care facilities to respond adequately,” he said.
