JUST-IN: Cross River Isolates Chinese National Over Suspected COVID-19 Infection

The Cross River State Government has confirmed that a Chinese national has been isolated at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) over a suspected case of COVID-19 infection.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, disclosed this to journalists in Calabar on Tuesday, noting that the patient is currently under treatment and close medical supervision.

COVID-19, which first emerged in Nigeria in February 2020, previously led to a nationwide lockdown imposed by the Federal Government, alongside similar restrictions globally, to curb movement, close contact, and reduce the spread of the virus.

Dr. Ayuk explained that the patient arrived in Nigeria through Lagos on March 17, 2026, and later travelled to Calabar en route to a factory in Akamkpa local government area, where symptoms were first observed at a clinic.

He added that the individual was promptly referred to UCTH, where isolation protocols were immediately activated, while the state government also activated its public health response system.

“We have activated all necessary procedures, including contact tracing and isolation, to prevent further spread,” Ayuk said, adding that officials were working in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

He assured residents that the situation was under control and urged the public to remain calm, reiterating the government’s commitment to preventing any potential outbreak.

Also speaking on the development, the World Health Organisation (WHO) coordinator in the state, Dr. Olatunde Yewande, alongside the State Epidemiologist, Dr. Inyang Ekpenyong, said surveillance and response systems have been strengthened.

They explained that COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, presents with symptoms ranging from mild to severe, including fever, cough, fatigue, and difficulty in breathing.

Health authorities advised residents to strictly observe preventive measures such as regular handwashing, vaccination, use of face masks where necessary, and avoiding close contact with suspected cases.

They also stressed that early detection and prompt isolation remained key to limiting transmission of the virus.