NCDC Releases Hotline For Nigerians To Report Suspected Coronavirus Cases

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has released a hotline for which Nigerians can report suspected cases of the Coronavirus.

The NCDC also gave descriptions that will help members of the public identify a potential case of the Coronavirus.

The Center said the public can report a suspected case if they know of persons with “acute respiratory illness, (including severe patients who have been hospitalised) presenting with fever, cough, difficulty breathing AND who within 14 days before onset of illness has any one of the following exposures:

“1. History of travel to China 14 days prior to symptoms onset OR

“2. Close contact with a confirmed case of CoV  infection OR

“3. Exposure to healthcare facility in a country where hospital associated nCoV infections have been reported”

The NCDC added that a reasonable ground to suspect a case include when “testing for 2019-nCoV is inconclusive or for whom testing was positive on a pan-coronavirus assay.”

It said a coronavirus case can be said to be confirmed in “any person with laboratory confirmation of 2019nCov* infection with or without signs and symptoms.”

The NCDC urged members of the public to report suspected cases to 07032864444 to enable it arrange for sample collection and testing.

Meanwhile, THE WHISTLER reported earlier that the agency refuted reports that a Nigerian who recently returned to the country from China had contracted the virus.