COVID-19: Many Of The Dead Were Educated, Wealthy People Who Chose Home Care – Health Minister

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has given an insight into the category of people who constitute the most fatalities arising from Coronavirus in the country.

The minister revealed that most of the dead were well-educated and wealthy people who chose home treatment and reported to care centres late.

Ehanire disclosed this on Tuesday during the Presidential Taskforce briefing on COVID-19.

The country has recorded a total number of 191 deaths across the country, with a total of 6,175 confirmed cases of the virus.

He said “Not only are most fatalities observed to be linked with preexisting diseases, many of the COVID-19 fatalities are educated well to do people who chose home care where complications suddenly developed and they had to be rushed to hospitals.

“Experience is beginning to show that breathing complications in COVID-19 patients can arise with little or no notice. This is an added reason why all persons should seek medical attention when they test positive.”

He called on Nigerians to prepare for the worst as a result of the virus.

He said the government would adjust its strategies based on knowledge and evidence.

He said the health ministry and the NCDC were assessing isolation centres all over the country in order to strengthen the country’s response to the pandemic.

According to the health minister, a ministerial task team, led by a director in the federal ministry of health arrived in calabar on Monday, to interact with Cross River State ministry of health.

He added that the team was made up of health experts from relevant agencies, each one with terms of reference to work with relevant state officials to review and evaluate present status and needs of the state.

“Also, a ministerial task team to Kano has reported an improvement in the processes and indices of the state and also of strategies to control increasing cases of COVID-19 infections in the entire region by ramping up testing, isolation and case management capabilities.”