Yusuf Bello| The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Chikwe Ihekweazu is currently under self-quarantine for possible infection of the deadly coronavirus, Nigeria’s health minister said on Tuesday.
On a visit to the national assembly to brief the senate leadership on the level of Nigeria’s preparedness to contain the virus, the minister said, Ihekweazu went into self-quarantine after his return from China to Nigeria and will remain in quarantine in his house for 14 days.
Senate President, Ahmed Lawan in his response urged the Ministry of Health to immediately step up the plan to create more isolation centers in all the states of the federation or at least make plans to have one in each of the six geopolitical zones.
The NCDC has meanwhile said reports that the DG was under ‘quarantine over coronavirus’ is false.
In a statement on Tuesday evening, The agency stated that between the 16th and 24th of February 2020, the World Health Organisation deployed a high-level mission to China.
The mission, the agency said involved 25 national and international experts who met with their counterparts in China to understand their response to the COVID-19.
The statement read, “As recommended in NCDC’s public health advisory, travelers from countries with ongoing transmission of COVID-19 are advised to proceed on 14-day self-isolation whether well or unwell.
“The Director-General has adhered to this, to protect himself and the public. He has been tested since his return and has shown no symptoms of COIVID-19 infection.
“He remains in good health.”
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