The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Saturday said five returning travellers from China into the country have tested negative for the novel Coronavirus, Covid19.
In a tweet, the agency said its protocol is to test all returning travellers from China with symptoms.
Since the beginning of #COVID19 outbreak, the protocol in Nigeria is to TEST returning travellers from China with symptoms
— NCDC (@NCDCgov) February 15, 2020
So far, five people have been tested. Results were NEGATIVE
These are NOT ‘coronavirus cases’ as described in this media articlehttps://t.co/eWXtPP5RFF
The NCDC has reiterated that there is yet no confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the country and urged Nigerians to disregard and discourage unfounded rumours.
In a later tweet on Saturday, the agency advised that any person that has returned from China within the last 14 days should stay indoors and avoid contact with other people.
“Please follow this advice even if you do not have symptoms of the virus,” the NCDC said.
On Friday, Egypt confirmed the first Coronavirus case in Africa.
The virus originated late last year in China, where it has since infected more than 66,000 people and killed more than 1,500.
Three deaths from the virus have so far been recorded outside mainland China — in the Philippines, Hong Kong and Japan.
The first death outside Asia was confirmed by France on Saturday.
