The Cross River State Government has confirmed that 10 persons who had contact with a Chinese national recently diagnosed with COVID-19 have been identified and isolated as part of ongoing containment measures.
The state epidemiologist, Inyang Ekpenyong, disclosed that the individuals were traced during contact tracing operations carried out by health officials following confirmation of the case.
According to her, the response team visited the patient’s workplace in Akamkpa Local Government Area, where the contacts were identified and subsequently placed under movement restrictions to prevent further spread of the virus.
“We’ve restricted their movements to their homes so that they do not transmit the infection to others,” Ekpenyong said.
She added that the infected Chinese national is currently receiving treatment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital and is responding positively.
Ekpenyong cautioned residents that COVID-19 has not been eradicated globally, urging the public to maintain preventive measures such as regular hand hygiene, use of face masks, and adherence to health guidelines.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Health, Henry Egbe Ayuk, had announced the confirmed case, assuring residents that the government had activated all necessary public health protocols to contain the situation.
Ayuk noted that the global nature of the virus means cases can still be imported across borders, but emphasised that there is no cause for panic.
“COVID-19 is not peculiar to Nigeria, but we are determined to contain it,” he said.
Health authorities in the state say surveillance and response measures remain active as efforts continue to prevent any wider outbreak.
