Barely one month after the reopening of schools in Lagos state amid the COVID-19 pandemic, there are reportedly 181 new confirmed cases of the virus among students and staff of an undisclosed private school in Lekki, according to the state commissioner for health, Prof. Akin Abayomi.
Abayomi who disclosed this on Friday, explained that an investigation revealed that “a 14-year-old female student fell ill on the 3rd of October and was sent home from the school after she had received first aid treatment.
“The student subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, 6th October in one of the accredited private laboratories in Lagos. This prompted the testing of other students and staff of the school,” he explained.
However, the commissioner assured that appropriate measures have been taken to contain the spread and manage the positive cases; adding that virtual communication is ongoing between the parents and the school authorities to allay fears.
The commissioner said, “There is a total lockdown and movement restriction in the school with the Epidemiology and Surveillance Pillar of the EOC and Ibeju-Lekki LGA State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO) reporting at the school daily to conduct further investigation while positive students and staff have been isolated on the premises and given the COVID-19 home-care treatment packs and are being monitored in isolation within the school premises.
“Students are to be isolated in the School premises and if unwell will be admitted in one of the accredited isolation centers in Lagos. Students are discouraged from going home to avoid infecting members of their families.
Abayomi continued, “Members of the Emergency Operation Center and our counterparts in the Ministry of Education have been deployed to the school to provide strategic interventions and support to the school. This includes psychosocial support, infection prevention control; medical monitoring and risk communication experts to further enlighten and educate affected people.”
While stressing the need for residents, teachers, including students to adhere to guidelines and protocols by the government in order prevent a further spread, the commissioner, admonished citizens to be aware of the very existence of the virus.
The recent surge in the number of positive cases reported could be attributed to the ongoing EndSARS movement across the country which the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu had earlier warned protesters of.
As at Thursday, 15th of October, 2020 Lagos recorded 66 new cases, thus, totaling 20,433 confirmed cases and 204 deaths.
The commissioner, however, urged Lagosians to call the 08000EKOMED and 08000356633 toll-free line if they notice any sign of symptoms of COVID-19, which include fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue or loss of sense of taste or smell.
