The federal government said Thursday that over 40 health workers have tested positive for COVID-19 in the country.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, during the daily briefing by the Presidential Task Force on the Control of COVID-19 pandemic.
The minister said there was the need for health workers to ensure that adequate precautionary measures are observed when treating any patient.
”This warning has become necessary due of the number of health workers who have tested positive for COVID-19, They are over 40 now. Apart from the over 40 health workers, there are others who have been quarantined in the last two weeks due to exposure and have not been able to contribute to efforts of the health sector,” he said.
The minister said that as of Thursday, April 23, 2020, 873 people in 25 states and the FCT have been confirmed to have COVID-19 from 9,522 tests.
He said 197 have been treated and discharged while 28 deaths were recorded.
He said the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) would continue to support response to COVID-19 in all states and the FCT.
He said Rapid Response Teams are working closely with State Emergency Operations Centre to strengthen operations.
“Nigeria’s strategy is to admit all persons who test positive for COVID-19 into designated accredited treatment facilities to contain the spread of the virus and ensure prompt management to forestall complications. I urge all individuals who test positive for COVID-19 to report at any of our designated isolation and treatment centres,” he said.
He said the ministry must be able to account for all infected persons and ascertain containment of the infection.
He also urged the states to ensure that all persons who test positive for COVID-19 are admitted at the designated centres.
