Coronavirus: Over 90% of COVID-19 patients will recover - Health minister

- The minister of health, Osagie Ehanire, said over 90% of those who contract COVID-19 will recover

- Ehanire said this to allay the fears of Nigerians over the rise in the number of confirmed cases daily

- The health minister attributed the increase in the number of cases to increased testing, grassroots mobilisation and community transmission

The minister of health, Osagie Ehanire, has allayed the fear of Nigerians over the rising cases of COVID-19 in the country.

As at Tuesday morning, April 21, data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) indicates that Nigeria has 665 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 188 people discharged after recovery.

So far, 22 people have died from the disease. Also, over 8,000 samples have been tested across the country thus far.

Some of the people who have died from the disease in Nigeria were said to have underlying medical conditions.

Speaking at the daily briefing by the presidential taskforce on COVID-19 on Monday, April 20, Ehanire said 90 percent of people who contract the virus will recover, Premium Times reports.

The health minister said people are afraid due to the high number of confirmed cases “that they forget about those recovering.”

"There is no reason for apprehension because over 90 per cent of those who have COVID-19 will recover," he added.

The minister only a few people get very sick after contracting the virus.

“Nine out 10 will recover, so what is the fear about. Only that the numbers are so large that we forget that people recover and few get very sick, that is just about four or five out of 100,” Ehanire said.

The minister also explained that the increase in the number of confirmed cases daily is as a result of increased testing, social mobilisation at the grassroots and community transmission.

Ehanire added that the NCDC will double its testing capacity from 1,500 to 3,000 persons daily.

“Thirteen molecular diagnostic laboratory nationwide have been activated so far by the NCDC and the target this week is to double the national testing capacity which stands at 1,500 a day.

”Our strategy now focuses on the community and we have increased testing and social mobilisation at the grassroots.

”The worrying increases in the frequency and numbers of new persons with COVID-19 being recorded daily, is attributable to this new strategy, in combination with the increased community transmission,” he said.

Ehanire said any traveller coming into Nigeria must be quarantined for 14 days at a designated facility, in order to forestall re-importation of COVID-19 into the country.

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Meanwhile, the director-general of the NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, has informed Nigerians that life won’t return to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ihekweazu stated this while speaking on a radio programme in Lagos on Monday, April 20.

He said that a return to the pre-COVID lifestyle, once the current restrictions are relaxed, could bring about a high resurgence of the infection.

The NCDC boss also advised business owners to adjust their business model such that it is compliant to social distancing and reduces the level of interaction among people.

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Source: Legit.ng