Nigeria Records 3rd Coronavirus Case, NMA, Others, Call for Border Closure

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With the Coronavirus pandemic getting more entrenched in Africa and the confirmation of the third case in Nigeria, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and other well-meaning Nigerians have called on the federal government to restrict movement into the country from high risked countries.

Announcing the confirmation of the third case in the country, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, on Tuesday said the new case is a Nigerian who just returned from the UK, tested positive during 14-day self-isolation period.

According to the minister, the woman, who returned from a short visit to UK on Friday, 13 March, proceeded on a 14-day self-isolation, but tested positive on Tuesday, after which she contacted officials of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, and was handed over to the Lagos State Ministry of Health team, which transferred her to the Lagos infectious Disease Hospital.

Meanwhile, intensive contact tracing has begun, said Ehanire, to trace all persons that have had contact with her, as the British Airways Flight which she bordered has released manifest of passengers on board.

Nonetheless, the NMA President Dr Francis Faduyile revealed the stand of the association regarding the closure of the borders, noting that “ it’s high time the Nigerian government take that decision of closing the border against those countries with a high level of Coronavirus infection.”

Other concerned Nigerians have also bared their minds on the worrisome situation in the country, calling on the government to place restrictions on in flocks of foreigners from high risked countries into Nigeria.

The Nigerians through their Twitter handles reacted to the development below:
Olamide Chinunname tweeted thus: “When exactly will Nigeria ban travel from the mostly affected countries? USA banned all incoming flights from Europe. Canada’s borders is opened to only Americans,, Canadians & PR of Canada. These countries have better healthcare facilities than Nigeria”.

Olaga of Benin also tweeted: ”So isnt it time for travel Ban? Until an outbreak that we can’t control? God forbid. Please recommend travel ban from highly affected areas”.

For Najite Okpada, he reasoned along the line of shortage of resources, which will spell doom for Nigeria, if nothing is done urgently. “Is it not time we ban all international flights temporarily? We do not have the resources and per capita income to handle an outbreak”.