Chinese medical team, 67 Nigerian returnees begin compulsory 14-day quarantine
London, April 9, 2020 (AltAfrica)-A 15-member Chinese medical team who arrived Nigeria on Wednesday will on Thursday begin their 14-day quarantine in line with global practices to ensure that they are coronavirus free, AlternativeAfrica.com can authoritatively reveal
The Chinese team arrived with medical supplies purchased by the Nigerian Federal government through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja, by Air peace.
A top official of the Federal Ministry of Health told our correspondent in Abuja that the team already aware that they would not be engaged in the country until after their 14-day mandatory quarantine which would be observed in their hotel .
“There is no need to entertain any fears. They (the Chinese medical team) are aware and have agreed before their arrival that they need to observe two weeks quarantine in line with global practices. Nigeria is not an exception. The quarantine with start immediately in their hotel. They would be isolated for 14 days and put under surveillance for possible COVID-19 symptoms before they could be assigned to their different destinations in the country..” The senior official said
Nigerian health minister, Osagie Ehanire had earlier announced the medical experts would be coming into the country to support its fight against COVID-19.
He said the experts would be sharing their experience after making progress in the fight against Covid-19.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) earlier expressed its dissatisfaction with the move describing it as “a thing of embarrassment to the membership of the Association and other health workers who are giving their best in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic under deplorable working conditions.”
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) also advised the federal government against the plan, saying it was unnecessary to invite Chinese doctors as Nigeria was already handling the crisis effectively
Meanwhile, sixty seven Nigerians resident in Ivory Coast on Wednesday arrived at Seme Border Post in a luxury bus.
They were quickly herded into quarantine by the Lagos State health officials, amid coronavirus fears. Majority of the passengers in the bus were women, children with few men.
Officials from Lagos State Ministry of Health arrived Seme border post around 4:00p.m on Wednesday in three Toyota Coaster buses.
They took the returnees to isolation centres in Badagry for tests and quarantine.
The Nigerians, who left Ivory Coast on Sunday, were delayed on their way because of the border closures in Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
An official of Nigeria Immigration Service in Seme who did not want his name mentioned, said they had earlier informed the Lagos State Government of their arrival.
He said that most of the returnees were from Ejigbo in Osun
