The federal government has advised Nigerians to suspend all travel plans to China until further notice, following the outbreak and spread of the deadly Coronavirus.
Dr Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health, gave the advice while addressing State House Correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday.
Ehanire stated this while discussing Nigeria’s preparedness to prevent the scourge from spreading to the country.
Ehanire also said people arriving in Nigeria from China, or any of the countries with a major outbreak of the disease will be placed under watch.
“In view of the trending stories around the Coronavirus, it has become very necessary to issue a travel advisory to Nigerians.
“The first is that all Nigerians and all from Nigeria, intending to travel to China should delay all their travel plans until further notice, except it is extremely essential for them to do that trip.
“All persons arriving from China or any country that has a major outbreak is advised, if they have no symptoms at all, to self-isolate, meaning that they stay indoors in their homes for at least two weeks and if they develop any symptoms, like cough, catarrh, sneezing, breathing difficulties within this period, to report to the nearest health facility.
“We are also advising all airlines to report any case of a passenger falling sick on-board before the plane lands. That is a requirement in the agreement. Nigerian Port Health Services, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control are on alert at our airports and other points of entry. That is the advisory.
“We don’t have statistics on the number of Chinese returning to this country, [from Lunar Year holiday] but what I can tell you is that for those who traveled and meet the conditions we mentioned can come back to their work.
“I also want to remind you that there are very many Nigerians in China who will be coming home, not only Chinese and other people who have works to do in Nigeria from that area. We are not using your nationality as a criterion, we are using your state of health”, he said.