Federal Government has placed a travel ban on 13 Countries with high-risk cases of Coronavirus with effect from March 21st, 2020.
Announcing the ban, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha named the countries affected as; China, UK, U.S, France, Italy, Japan, Iran, Switzerland, Norway, South Korea, Netherlands, Germany and Spain.
The SGF also announced that the Federal Government has suspended the visa arrival policy.
He also stated that persons arriving in Nigeria who might have visited these countries will be subjected to supervised self-isolation and testing for 14 days.
The SGF also announced the temporary suspension of issuance of all visas on arrival.
“The Federal Government is also counselling all Nigerians to cancel or postpone all non-essential travels to these countries; and “The Federal Government urges Public Health Authorities of countries with a high burden to conduct diligent departure screening of passengers and also endorses these travel advisories to their nationals to postpone travels to Nigeria. “These restrictions will come into effect from Saturday, 21st March 2020 for four (4) weeks subject to review.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria five new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the country bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 8.
According to the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, three of the five cases arrived from the United States, while two arrived from the United Kingdom.
He added that “detailed information is still being obtained but based on the available information, two of the three travellers from the USA are Nigerian (a mother and her six weeks old baby, the youngest coronavirus patient we have) and the third is an American National who crossed the land border as a biker.” The Health Minister said.
Also, the Katsina ministry of health has identified a suspected case of coronavirus in Dutsinma local government area of the state.
The permanent secretary of the State’s Ministry of Health, Kabir Mustapha, disclosed that is at present in self-isolation after returning from Malaysia and developed symptoms that warranted further investigations.
“Already, his samples have been taken and results being expected tomorrow,” he said.
“The contact tracing will commence as soon as results are out.”
