Ekiti State government on Wednesday confirmed that a patient tested positive to coronavirus as earlier announced by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire.
The government said the Ekiti State Taskforce on COVID, headed by Governor Kayode Fayemi, confirmed that the 38-year-old patient is a Nigerian of Ekiti origin.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Health & Human Services, Dr. Mojisola Yaya Kolade, the Nigerian was suspected to have been infected while driving a 27-year-old male American Caucasian who visited Nigeria from Richmond, Virginia, USA in the company of his caregiver, a 31-year-old female Nigerian of Ekiti origin.
Giving further details, the statement said: ”The American male and his Nigerian female caregiver, arrived Nigeria on 3rd March 2020 through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos. Preliminary investigations revealed that the pair were driven by our confirmed case to Ibadan, where they stayed for two weeks, and arrived Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State on 13th March, 2020.
”A day after their arrival, the American male fell ill and he was taken to a private hospital where he was referred to a tertiary hospital. Unfortunately, he died from complications of his illness.
”The hospital authorities alerted the State Taskforce and samples were taken from the American male as well as his two companions. The test for the male driver came back positive; the test for the female caregiver came back negative while the test for the American male was inconclusive.”
It added that the confirmed case had been quarantined in the State Isolation Centre, while the caregiver who tested negative is presently under observation in self isolation, in line with the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) protocols.
The confirmed case was also said to be in very stable and not showing any symptoms, while NCDC would repeat the test for the caregiver who tested negative.
Meanwhile, the state said it has commenced the process of contact tracing, working with the Federal Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) and had already contacted the Oyo State Government since it was recorded that the trio stayed in Ibadan for two weeks.
Dr. Yaya Kolade therefore called for calm and urged Ekiti residents to observe the prevention steps that had been publicised, noting that the likely index case was on a short visit and had not been in Ekiti State for up to 72 hours before his death.
”The Ekiti State Taskforce on Covid-19 advises residents to continue to take self preventive measures by washing their hands with soap and water, covering their mouth when coughing or sneezing, observing social distancing and to alert the authorities of any suspected case by calling the 112 Emergency Number or 09062970434, 09062970435, 09062970436.
”The Government of Ekiti State will continue to update the public on new developments as necessary in our commitment to ensuring the safety and protection of all Ekiti residents,” the statement added.