JUST IN: 3 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Abuja

Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, has recorded three cases of COVID-19.

According to a report by THE PUNCH, the index case is an official of the Federal Inland Revenue Service and was one of the passengers on the British Airways’ flight that landed on March 13, 2020.

It was learnt that two other cases of COVID-19 were confirmed.

A medical doctor told The PUNCH that the three patients had been moved to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital.

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He said, “The bad news is that three samples from the FCT (Federal Capital Territory) suspected cases tested positive for coronavirus. We have got in touch with the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital and we are moving them immediately. We will give more details as soon as possible concerning their flights, contact tracing, and other protocols.

“COVID-19 is in Abuja now. One of the passengers on the British Airways’ flight works with the FIRS and he is among those who tested positive. His wife tested negative. We are hoping that all biometric sign-in at the FIRS headquarters in Wuse Zone 5 stops with immediate effect.”

Confirming the incident, NCDC via their official twitter account wrote; “@Fmohnigeria has confirmed 10 new cases of #COVID19 in #Nigeria. Of the 10 new cases, 3 are in the Federal Capital Territory and 7 are in Lagos. 9 out of the 10 cases have travel history outside Nigeria in the last one week. The 10th case is a close contact of a confirmed case”

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All new cases have mild to moderate symptoms, and are being managed at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital and Infectious Disease Hospital, Lagos.

We urge the public to remain calm and adhere to social distancing and other measures in place