Nigeria confirms first case of coronavirus

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Accra, Feb. 28, GNA – Nigeria has confirmed
its first case of the flu-like coronavirus (COVID-19) as the virus which
originated in Wuhan, China, continues to spread to more countries.

An Italian man, who arrived in the populous
West African country, this week, tested positive to the infection at the Lagos
University Teaching Hospital.

The patient, is reported by the Federal Health
Authorities to be clinically stable, with no serious symptoms.

He is being managed at the Infectious Disease
Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.

 Mainland China, the epicentre of the virus,
reported 327 new cases, the lowest since January 23, taking its tally to more
than 78,800 cases with almost 2,800 deaths.

The number of countries outside China with
infections, now stands at 55, where about 3,700 cases have killed about 70
people.

Countries other than China are accounting for
about three-quarters of new infections.

Director General of World Health Organization
(WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called for all nations to prepare – up
their emergency response.

“This virus has pandemic potential,” he said
in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday.

“This is not a time for fear. This is a time
for taking action to prevent infection and save lives now.”

In addition to stockpiling medical supplies,
governments have ordered schools shut and canceled big gatherings to try to
halt the spread of the virus.

Reuters reports that President Donald Trump’s
administration is considering invoking special powers through a law called the
Defense Production Act to rapidly expand domestic manufacturing of protective
masks and clothing to combat the coronavirus in the United States.

GNA