By Francis Ogwo
As the fight against COVID-19 intensifies, Lagos State Government has assured on efforts at ensuring a complete defeat of the dreaded virus with the fight taken to homes.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu disclosed this to residents during his easter broadcast.
” Since my last address to you on April 4, 2020, we have seen an increase in the total number of confirmed cases nationwide. Lagos continues to lead with the highest number of confirmed cases. Our numbers have gone from 109 as at the last time I addressed you to 198 as at today’s briefing. The number of persons who have died has also sadly risen marginally, from 1 to 7.”
He spoke on the plans of the state in taking the fight to the homes while urging residents to cooperate with the health personnels.
“In the last one week, we also commenced an active search for cases in communities across the state, all with a view to effectively track and trace community transmitted cases. This is important for us to do as we have seen a trend of community transmission in the number of recently confirmed cases, and with the population density of the state being what it is, it is thus imperative that we begin this next phase of identifying and managing new cases as quickly as possible.
“It will therefore not be unexpected for you to be visited by a team from the Lagos State Government, Ministry of Health. Please give them accurate information in response to the questions they ask, which will be related to your health and travel history”.he added.
An update was made recently by the state’s Commissioner for Health Professor Akin Abayomi who revealed that about 118,000 have been tested as measures to speed up the fight in the state.
According to Abayomi ,the objective of the community testing was ” to go to hot spots and go from door to door with our health personnel.”
This he said was as a result of the intensity of the spread of COVID 19. The community search he said was therefore needful so as to reduce the status of the state currently having the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country.
“So far, in the last two days, we’ve visited 118,000 households and we’re looking for the typical symptoms of COVID-19. We’ve identified about 119 people who have the symptoms that are suggestive of COVID-19,” Abayomi added.
“But let me remind you that COVID is one of the viruses that can cause respiratory symptoms.”
Speaking further, Abayomi stated that just like with other viruses in the country the government is taking samples “from these 119 and analyse them and that would give us an idea of how much COVID-19 activity is happening in the communities.”while urging “Lagos residents to remain on alert across communities and obey instructions aimed at containing the spread of #COVID-19 infection.”
It is on record that Lagos is the epicentre in Nigeria as it currently has 214 confirmed cases.
This worrisome status according to the commissioner would have a drastic shift with the plans effectively executed.
