A new COVID-19 case in Cross River State, Nigeria, has been registered, initiating the process of contact tracing and following up on those who might have been exposed.
Cross River State Ministry of Health confirmed that a Chinese national, who has tested positive for the virus, has been admitted, and the authorities are already profiling individuals who were in contact with the patient.
This was revealed by the State Commissioner of Health, Henry Ayuk, as he made briefings to journalists about the outbreak of the lethal COVID-19-related virus, SARS in the state.
As Ayuk stated, the patient came to Nigeria on March 17, 2026, and it is assumed that he was infected inside the country after having passed the 14-day mark of incubation. It is claimed that symptoms were noted on April 10.
The commissioner was encouraging people to be calm, yet on the alert that he was sure that the state government could contain and prevent the further spread of the virus.
He further said that health workers were mobilised around the communities within the Akamkpa Local Government Area where the patient resided and worked in order to avoid potential transmission.
Ayuk reported that the development was the first major COVID-19 case identified in Cross River since 2022, and it reiterates the government’s pledge to contain the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Coordinator in Cross River, Yewande Olatunde, advised Nigerians to exercise health-consciousness, as new variants of COVID-19 are constantly emerging around the world.
She encouraged residents to be cautious and follow the recommendations of the public health officials to avoid additional outbreaks.
The revival is several years after the COVID-19 pandemic took away millions of lives across the planet. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported approximately 3,000 deaths in Nigeria.
COVID-19, which was initially reported in China at the end of 2019, quickly spread around the world, forcing lockdowns and significant derailments of economic and social activities. But things have slightly changed since the introduction of vaccines and public health measures in most countries.
