Coronavirus: Ogun Govt. says "no cause for alarm, we are on top of it" - Commissioner*

The Ogun State Government has called on its residents not to panic as regards the confirmed case of Corona Virus at the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos State saying, "no cause for alarm, we are on top of the situation".

Speaking with newsmen, the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, said the case is of Italian nationality who works as a consultant with a company in Ogun State, noting that the person returned to the country on Monday, February 24 at 9pm and lodged at an hotel in Lagos State.

Coker said that the man on arriving his place of work in Ogun State the following day, Tuesday, developed some symptoms which made the company to contact the Virology Laboratory in Lagos, pointing out that series of tests were run after which it was confirmed to be Convid-19.

"There is no cause for fear", the Commissioner said, just as she stated that the Epidemiology team of Ogun State are working closely with their Lagos and Federal Government counterparts to ensure effective line listing of the contacts of the index case.

The Commissioner urged all residents to take individual responsibility for their health by maintaining good respiratory hygiene and cultivating hand washing culture, adding that alcohol based sanitiser should be used as an alternative to hand washing.

Coker, who underscored the need for vigilance at a time like this, said alternative medicine should not be an option in the case of Coronavirus as it is capable of delaying diagnosis, adding that whoever has cold or cough should be taken to any of the State Hospitals, General Hospitals or primary health care centers spread across the 236 wards of the Gateway State.

“Don’t use alternative medicine since it is capable of delaying diagnosis. Keep five feet away from whoever has any form of fever around you because close contact creates transmission. Endeavour to use tissue paper and dispose immediately to avoid keeping germs to yourself".

According to her, "Whoever has cold or cough around you should be taken to government-owned hospital or any primary health care center around you from where we will take up the case".

Assuring that any suspected case would be attended to by the State's epidemiologists in accordance with global best practice, the Commissioner said that the present administration will continue to educate the public on measures to be taken to guard against being infected.

According to her, the state government has set up an isolation center within the premises of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH),  Sagamu where we also have a Consultant, zero Infectious disease on ground. We  have procured protective equipment and thermometers to tackle any form of epidemic. 

Coker affirmed that the  emergency response team of the State government will continue to meet every morning to do a thorough review and exchange ideas, advising residents to call 08188978393 or 08188978392 in case of any suspected case.