Ehanire Gives Statistics Of People Who Would Survive COVID-19

Minister of health,Osagie Ehanire, has said nine of out 10 COVID-19 patients will recover from the disease.

This, Ehanire noted while addressing newsmen at the presidential task force briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja yesterday.

He said a lot of people are nursing fears over the high number of confirmed cases, forgetting that a lot of those confirmed would most likely recover.

Responding to a journalist who asked him to react to rumours that an ambulance was used to convey some COVID-19 patients from Bwari in Abuja, Ehanire said: “I would like to appeal to everybody not to see an ambulance as a sign of COVID-19 if that’s not what it is. An ambulance can do a large number of things, so the sign of an ambulance does not immediately translate to COVID-19. That is over the top of apprehension.

“It can happen but in this case, I don’t believe so. There is no reason for apprehension because over 90% of those who have COVID-19 will recover.

“Nine out 10 will recover, so what is the fear about. Only that the numbers are so large that we forget that people recover and the few get very sick, that is just about four or five out of 100.”

Ehanire noted that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has plans to double testing capacity from 1,500 to 3,000 persons daily.

According to him, they are working on a new national action plan in a bid to intensify efforts in tackling the disease.

They urged Nigerians to adopt the use of face masks during activities outside their various homes.

“Thirteen molecular diagnostic laboratory nationwide have been activated so far by the NCDC and the target this week is to double the national testing capacity which stands at 1,500 a day,” he said.

“A strict guide for the use and maintenance of cloth masks is in development and will be publicised. It is sufficing to say that your masks must be washed everyday and if possible, ironed.”