Osagie Ehanire, minister of health, says more than 2,000
people have been tested for coronavirus across the country.
Speaking at a press briefing organised by the presidential
task force on COVID-19 in Abuja on Wednesday, the minister said the figure
would rise in the coming days.
“As of now, well over 2,000 persons have been tested with
the hope of further expanding and improving diagnostic capacity across the
board to shorten turnaround time and increase volume,” he said.
“Two more laboratories were added to the NCDC network of
molecular laboratories for COVID-19 at the University College Hospital, Ibadan
and Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, increasing our test
sites to seven, to start scaling up testing capacity with hope of even further
increase when human resources are mobilised for round-the-clock shift duty.”
While listing other measures put in place to limit the
spread of coronavirus across the country, Ehanire said the federal government
is working with state ministries of health to address the situation.
He commended healthcare professionals for their efforts so
far, particularly in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun.
“As part of preparedness in the Abuja metropolis, we have
over 1,000 bed spaces ready for isolation and treatment of mild to moderate
cases, which we can expand if the need arises,” he said.
“We have ICU units ready in Gwagwalada and National
Hospital, and those who may have complications, especially those with
underlying illnesses like tuberculosis, HIV, cancer and also the elderly. We
again urge families to protect their elderly and vulnerable people by not
exposing them to unnecessary social hazards.”
There are currently 151 coronavirus cases in the country.
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