28/02/2020
UPDATE CORONAVIRUS IN LAGOS STATE
Good morning Comrades. As you may already know, the Coronavirus that has plagued a number of nations of the world, beginning in Wuhan China where it was first detected, has spread to Nigeria.
Find below, screenshots of the official press release by the Federal Ministry of Health. As at the posting of this message, Nigeria has one confirmed case of the disease and the patient has been taken in for observation and treatment, and is in stable condition.
This is not to spread fear or panic, but to educate you on the Coronavirus, how it spreads and how to protect yourself from getting it, and if you find yourself or someone you know showing symptoms, how to get help.
WHAT IS CORONAVIRUS?
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel Coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.
Coronaviruses are transmitted between animals and people. The disease can be spread via coughing or sneezing or touching bodily fluids from an infected person. The most common entry of infection is by touching your face with your hands that have been affected.
COMMON SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS
Symptoms range from mild to severe. Elderly people and people treating chronic illnesses are more at risk. The symptoms include: Headache, Sore Throat, Cough, Shortness of Breath, Fever, Chest pain, Chills, Rapid Heartbeat, Difficulty breathing, Pneumonia and Kidney Failure.
In some cases, the symptoms may alleviate after a few hours or days. In other cases, they may get worse. Failure to check into a medical facility and address these symptoms, may lead to fatal cases.
Please note that these symptoms also appear in other illnesses, so do not panic if you are currently experiencing any of the above-named symptoms. Go to a hospital and ask to speak to a Doctor and explain your symptoms. Tests may be carried out to ascertain your actual condition. Remember, prevention is better than cure.
EMERGENCY HOTLINES
If you are in Lagos and you or someone you know is experiencing the above-named symptoms, especially if you or them just got back from a trip, are working with expatriates who recently returned, or are working with someone who just got back from a trip, call the following Lagos State Emergency Hotlines for help:
08023169485
08033565529
08052817243
Once again, do not panic or spread panic. We've had Ebola in the past and we did our best to contain it by not spreading panic and mass hysteria. Let's maintain the same decorum this time as well.
HOW TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF AN INFECTION
The World Health Organisation and the Centre for Disease Control give the following ways to reduce your risk of an infection:
Clean your hands with soap and water as often as possible, especially before and after using the toilet.
Have an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you at all times and use it, even after washing your hands.
Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.
Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with tissue or cough and sneeze into your elbow.
Thoroughly cook meat and eggs before eating.
No unprotected contact with live wild or farm animals.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Stay home if you are sick.
Avoid touching your face with your hands.
For more information on the Coronavirus and how to stay safe and protected in these times, visit the World Health Organization Website, Centre for Disease Control Website and the Federal Ministry of Health Website. You can also find real-time information on their respective Twitter handles.
CAUTION
Resist the urge to spread panic and mass hysteria. This has a negative effect as people put themselves in more harm.
DO NOT spread fake news. Verify all information you receive from credible sources before you pass them on.
Report anyone who is spreading fake news on social media. Report their handles or their posts so that such posts can be taken down.
Be your brothers' keeper. Look out for one another. If you or someone you know is exhibiting the above-listed symptoms, do not hide it and risk spreading it to more people. Report yourself to a hospital (preferably the Centre for Disease Control in Yaba) for proper examination and quarantine.
Educate your family and friends with the right information so that they too can be protected.
Stay safe in these times.
God bless us all.
- Edirin EDEWOR {VC}
