COVID-19: Lagos, FCT shut down isolation centres

Lagos and FCT, the most affected state by the COVID-19 pandemic have begun shutting down isolation centres as Nigerians snub the medical facilities amid vaccination.

Prof Bishop Ekele, The Chief Medical Director, UATH, confirmed on Saturday that indeed the rate of admission had dropped significantly and only four patients remained at the isolation ward and they might soon be discharged.

Ekele said, “We thank God that cases are beginning to drop. The doctors’ strike has no effect on our facility.

“Usually, it is those that need oxygen that are brought to us. We have just about four patients and hopefully they might soon be discharged.”

The National Hospital had discharged its last patient while the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, which attend to most severe cases, had about four patients as opposed to the average of 30 severe patients it used to have.

The spokesperson for the National Hospital, Dr Tayo Haastrup, said the last patient had been discharged last week.

“We have no more coronavirus patients in our isolation centre.

“However, we will not be closing it down because that is what we use for epidemics like Lassa fever.

“We still have the six rooms for such purposes,” he added.

The Chairman, Medical Sub-Committee of the COVID-19 Ministerial Expert Advisory Committee in Abuja, Dr. Ejike Oji, said the drop in the infection rate was a positive development.

However, he said this attitude was what led to the second wave and warned that the fight against COVID-19 must be sustained.

“It is true that severe infections have dropped but this is not the time for complacency. If you recall when we witnessed a drop late last year, people throw caution to the wind.

“What we have learnt about COVID-19 is that the virus mutates. We saw how the second wave came. There could be a third wave if we are not careful,” Dr. Oji said.

Kamila/Punch