Fresh COVID-19 scare
A 53-year-old Chinese expatriate who arrived in Nigeria about a month ago and works in a company in Akamkpa Local Government Area, Cross River State, is at the centre of
- No need to exaggerate its implications
A 53-year-old Chinese expatriate who arrived in Nigeria about a month ago and works in a company in Akamkpa Local Government Area, Cross River State, is at the centre of a fresh COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) scare in the country.
He arrived in Nigeria on March 17. Interestingly, he did not show symptoms until April 10, which is beyond the typical 14-day incubation period. This suggests he might have contracted the virus locally within the country from an undetected source, rather than importing it from abroad. This aspect must be thoroughly investigated.
The commissioner for health, Henry Ayuk, explained that the infection was confirmed at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, following tests on the patient who had presented mild symptoms. He said the patient “is currently receiving care at the state’s designated isolation and treatment centre and is responding well to treatment.”
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The state epidemiologist, Dr Inyang Ekpenyong, noted that this case, confirmed on April 21, is the first officially recorded infection in the state since 2022. Health authorities in the state immediately activated the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to treat the single case as a localised outbreak.
It is noteworthy that on a national level, the virus never fully disappeared. Two confirmed cases were recorded in the country in 2024, while there were 39 confirmed cases recorded across various states in 2025.
Apart from the detection of this single case showing that the country’s surveillance systems are still functional and capable of identifying resurgences, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) “has activated response measures, including contact tracing, surveillance, and infection prevention and control.”
“Contact tracing” is critical and must be carried out comprehensively. Over 60 individuals who had direct or indirect contact with the patient have been identified. They are currently being monitored daily for the duration of the 14-day incubation period. NCDC said “All identified contacts are being followed up appropriately, and there is no evidence at this time of widespread transmission.”
COVID-19 is an infectious respiratory illness first identified in late 2019. It is characterised by symptoms like fever, cough, fatigue, and difficulty breathing, often spreading through respiratory droplets.
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Nigeria recorded its index case in February 2020, when an Italian citizen arrived in Lagos from Milan. This marked the first confirmed case of the virus in sub-Saharan Africa. By late March 2020, the Federal Government implemented a total lockdown in Lagos and Ogun states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Interstate travel was banned, and schools, markets, and religious centres were closed nationwide.
As of April 2026, according to data from the NCDC and global health trackers, there have been 267,229 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 3, 155 confirmed deaths, and 259, 953 recoveries in the country.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in January 2020 and officially lifted this emergency status in May 2023. During this period, the world operated under “crisis mode,” characterised by lockdowns, emergency mandates, and mass vaccination campaigns. As of 2026, there have been 779.1 million confirmed cases and 7.1 million confirmed deaths globally.
Although the global scale has shifted from a universal crisis, individual cases (like the one recently reported in Cross River State) serve as reminders of a virus that can still strike. Public health experts say the virus is now a predictable, permanent part of the human ecosystem.
There has been a significant decline in the number of cases since the emergency phase of the pandemic, but experts warn that infections are expected due to global travel and ongoing virus circulation.
It is reassuring that the NCDC continues to “maintain routine surveillance for COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.” The post-pandemic phase demands early detection, rapid response and sustained surveillance – which were equally critical in the crisis phase.
The detection in Cross River underscores the need for a shift from emergency management to permanent preparedness.
