The News Agency of Nigeria reports that a case of COVID-19 has been identified in Cross River State.

Addressing journalists in Calabar, the state Commissioner for Health, Henry Ayuk, disclosed that the patient is a Chinese national employed by Lafarge. He explained that the individual arrived in Nigeria on March 17 and later fell ill.

According to Ayuk, the patient’s condition deteriorated while receiving initial care at a government facility, prompting his transfer to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for advanced treatment. At the hospital, samples were taken and all necessary procedures followed, leading to confirmation that he had contracted COVID-19. He, however, assured that the patient is currently stable and responding to treatment.

The commissioner added that the state’s healthcare system has been strengthened to effectively manage disease outbreaks, noting that although sporadic infections still occur, authorities remain prepared to contain any situation without causing public panic. He stressed that all required protocols were strictly observed before confirming the case involving the 53-year-old resident of Akamkpa Local Government Area.

Also speaking, the State Epidemiologist, Inyang Ekpenyong, revealed that emergency response mechanisms have been activated, including contact tracing to identify individuals who may have interacted with the patient.

She noted that the last recorded COVID-19 case in the state was in 2022 and suggested the possibility that the infection may have been contracted locally, given that the patient developed symptoms well beyond the typical incubation period after his arrival.

Ekpenyong added that rapid response teams have been deployed to Akamkpa to curb further spread, emphasizing that while infections may not be entirely preventable, effective containment can stop an outbreak and reduce fatalities.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization coordinator in the state, Yewande Olatunde, reminded the public that the virus remains present and urged continued adherence to preventive measures.