The Federal Government on Monday said it is maintaining vigilance and a high level of preparedness at the nation’s entry points to prevent a fresh outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.
The government made this known at the Federal Ministry of Health’s ministerial press briefing in Abuja on COVID-19 and other developments in the health sector.
Speaking at the briefing, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said the ministry has met with the World Health Organisation and the Embassy of China to review the resurgence of COVID-19 in China.
The PUNCH reports that there is a resurgence of COVID-19 in China following the relaxation of the country’s “Zero-COVID” policy, as well as significantly increased COVID-19 cases, admissions, and deaths in the United Kingdom and the United States of America over the past weeks, driven partly by the usual winter exacerbations of respiratory illnesses.
Ehanire said, “My ministry has been having discussions with the World Health Organisation with the senior officials of the ministry, and we have had technical sessions to do a situation review.
“The observed increase in the number of cases in China, the USA, and Europe is seasonal, and it is not unexpected during the winter.
“So, the recent relaxation also affects the rise in cases with the removal of travel restrictions.
From what you know so far, it’s not that there is a new variant, but there are sub-variants, and they are different.
“The ministry of health will continue to maintain vigilance and a high level of preparedness, especially at our points of entry.
“The Ministry of Health will not hesitate to take necessary action.”
The minister advised Nigerians to take the necessary precautions, get vaccinated, and use facemasks when necessary.
