The Cross River State Government has confirmed a new case of COVID-19 and has activated emergency response protocols to contain any potential spread.
The State Commissioner for Health, Henry Egbe Ayuk, disclosed that the case involves a 53-year-old expatriate who arrived in Nigeria through Lagos before travelling to a factory in Akamkpa Local Government Area, where symptoms first appeared.
The patient was initially treated for mild symptoms and later referred to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, where tests confirmed the infection. He is currently receiving care at a designated isolation centre and is reportedly responding well to treatment.
Authorities stated that the delay in public disclosure was to ensure accurate diagnosis and prevent misinformation. According to the State Epidemiologist, Inyang Ekpenyong, even a single confirmed case qualifies as an outbreak, prompting the activation of the Emergency Operations Centre.
Rapid response teams have been deployed, and contact tracing is ongoing, with identified contacts under daily monitoring within the incubation period.
Health officials, including representatives of the World Health Organization and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, emphasised the importance of sustained surveillance and adherence to preventive measures such as hand hygiene, mask use where necessary, and physical distancing.
Residents have been urged to remain calm, avoid misinformation, and promptly report any symptoms to health authorities.
