. Hospital Magt: “ There is NO confirm Case of Coronavirus…”
By Hamilton Nwosa(Head Business Desk)
There is palpable confusion in Lagos, especially in the Ikeja axis of the the bubbling commercial hub of Nigeria as reports alleged that a Chinese national (names withheld), who arrived in Nigeria from China , about a few weeks back, has been taken for medical attention following alleged sickness, a development that has triggered Coronavirus scare.
Earlier reports indicate that the Chinese national was to allegedly taken to Reddington Hospital, Ikeja after complaining of fever in the early hours of yesterday, Wednesday, February 26. This report has also resulted in several comments and reactions from Nigerians who want to know the true status of the Chinese national and if indeed such a development took place. This has sparked some confusion among residents for fear of the deadly Coronavirus scare.
But in a swift reaction, the management of Reddington Hospital has debunked the claims, saying there is no iota of truth in the story. In statement signed by the hospital’s Group Medical Director, Dr Olutunde Lalude, Reddington said it “ would like to assure the public that there has been NO confirmed case of coronavirus at ANY of the branches of the Reddington hospital as at today 26 February 2020″.
Part of the statement reads: “ “It has come to the attention of the management of the Reddington hospital that rumours are circulating on social media of a case of coronavirus (COVID-19) at the Reddington hospital Ikeja. …
“In the early hours of Wednesday 26 February 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 Diseases Hospital in Lagos while the results of the tests are awaited”.
