ive additional people have tested positive to coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nigeria, according to a statement by the government on Wednesday, March 18, 2020.
The Ministry of Health said all new cases have a history of travel to the United States of America and the United Kingdom where at least 1000 cases of the pandemic have been recorded.
According to the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, four of the infected people were discovered in Lagos, and one in Ekiti. A 6-week-old baby, the youngest recorded so far in the country, is one of the new positive cases.
Another one of the infected is a foreign national who arrived in the country via land border, the first such case.
“We urge Nigerians to remain calm as public health response activities are intensified across the country,” the ministry said.
The announcement of the new cases come just moments after the government announced travel restrictions on travelers from 13 foreign countries, including the U.S. and the UK, hit by the coronavirus.
Other countries affected by the restriction are China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, Norway, Netherlands and Switzerland.
The #COVID19 cases were all from the UK and US; 4 Nigerians (including a baby) and 1 American, who came into Nigeria by land, the 1st case not arriving by air.
From Fri. 20th Mar., @NigeriaGov will restrict entry into #Nigeria by persons from the high-burden countries. pic.twitter.com/V61aCF8o35
— Dr. E. Osagie Ehanire MD, FWACS (@DrEOEhanire) March 18, 2020
All the affected countries have recorded at least 1000 cases of coronavirus within their borders.
The Federal Government has also suspended the issuance of visas on arrival to travelers from the affected countries.
The travel restrictions kick into effect on Friday, March 20, and will be reviewed after four weeks. All travelers returning from the affected countries prior to the restriction will be in supervised self-isolation, monitored by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Port Health Services.
