BY DAYO ADESULU
The coronavirus which began in China in January 2020 has since spread to many parts of the world killing thousands of its patients.
World Health Organisation had declared coronavirus as a global health emergency.
China’s National Health Commission has reported 327 new confirmed cases and 44 new deaths as of Feb. 27.
Altogether, China has 78,824 confirmed cases and the death toll hits 2,788 on Thursday.
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Besides, South Korea has confirmed an additional 256 new coronavirus cases, bringing the country’s total to 2,022, according to its Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.
Countries of the world with coronavirus include China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Afghanistan, Algeria, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel and Italy.
Others are Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Nepal, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, The Republic of Korea, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam.
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On 27 February 2020 Nigeria joined the aforementioned countries bringing the total number to 52 nations with coronavirus.
Just like the case of the Ebola outbreak, there should be some measures in place by every government to contain its spread.
First and foremost, apart from tracing the coronavirus patient to know where he was coming from, the Ministry of Health should get the number of the aircraft and know the number of people on board.
READ ALSO: Sad: Coronavirus Hits Nigeria Thursday Through An Italian
It should go further to inquire to know those who sat close to him in the plane, the person or persons he shook hands within the flight and invite them for test and probably quarantine them until they are confirmed free.
A specific Healthline number where the affected people can call should be made public.
Besides, to avoid the spread of the virus, the ministry of health with the cooperation of the patient should asked about the time of arrival, the first person he met from the flight and the hotel or house he entered.
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Like the current case of the Italian, we were informed that he visited Ogun State. Who were the people he met there, where did he lodged, who were his UBER drivers? Let us plead with them to go for checkup whether they have the symptoms of coronavirus or not.
All the persons in the house or hotel at that particular time should call the Healthline to get an invite for test to ensure they have not been infected.
Moreover, the first patient confirmed with COVID-19 should be treated in a specialised or government-approved teaching hospital. Such patient should be in isolation, in a negative pressure room to prevent any spread of the disease.
Note, if a coronavirus patient is not in a negative pressure room, the virus could spread and infect others. A positive pressure room could spread the virus.
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Those measures would make the chances of a community outbreak of the COVID-19 remain low.
”The Ministry of Health must ensure that the situation is well managed because of the public messaging, awareness of COVID-19 disease and the public health response to managing cases and contacts.
Keeping individuals, families and Nigerians safe and healthy in the current global environment requires a team effort.
Other measures by the government against coronavirus should include, border restrictions, especially anyone who has been to or through mainland China or Iran, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand in the past 14 days.
This, not the time to keep our borders open for visitors across the neighbouring countries. Visa on arrival policy should be placed on hold in the interest of the country.
The Ministry of Health should at this time revised the advice to health professionals about identifying possible cases of COVID-19.
Federal Ministry of Health should announce that anyone arriving in Nigeria who has visited the infected countries in the previous 14 days having coronavirus symptoms to call Healthline number.
The deadly coronavirus problem should not be added to our already daily killing through insurgency and other dastardly acts. World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed it when it said that coronavirus is more deadly than terrorism.
