By MIKAIL MUMUNI
A Lagos based medical facility, St. Edwards Hospital, Ajah, which had inadvertently been attending to a patient with COVID-19 reopened on Friday after an initial closure following the discovery by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control ( NCDC).
It was learnt that a patient with cardiac symptoms, who was later confirmed by the NCDC to be COVID-19 positive, was admitted to the hospital on Saturday April 11, 2020, as the Medical Director of the hospital is a cardiologist.
The patient, it was gathered, did not volunteer information about previous contact with a COVID-19 case.
The lid was however blown open on Sunday, April 12, 2020 when St. Edwards Hospital received a call from NCDC with details of the patient and the agency stating that they are on their way to come and collect patient’s sample for testing.
The Hospital received the team from NCDC, and sample was taken from the patient on that Sunday, April 12, 2020.
A memo from an agency to which the hospital serves as Health Management Operator (HMO) stated that “NCDC communicated the result on Tuesday, April 14, 2020, which confirmed the patient to be positive and said they were coming to evacuate the patient.
“NCDC did not come on Tuesday but eventually came on Wednesday, April 15, 2020, and evacuated the patient.”
The State Online further gathered that “The hospital has been cooperating with NCDC, WHO ( World Health Organization) and all other health agencies that have called or visited since the incident.
“The hospital had been decontaminated on April 15 working with NCDC and following the guidelines stipulated by NCDC. Though NCDC counselled that they can start normal work after one (1) hour of decontamination, the hospital decided to remain closed and reopen for business on Friday, April 17, 2020.”
The agency in the memo told its staff that “In line with guidelines prescribed by NCDC, please note the following: If you visited the hospital between Saturday, April 11 and Wednesday April 15, 2020 you required to immediately Self Isolate, stay at home and avoid contact with people including your family (by staying in a room) for 14 days. Additionally, avoid public places and public transportation. “