No fewer than 155 doctors and nurses are in isolation in Lagos, Kwara and Edo states, a report has claimed.

In Edo State, about 25 doctors comprising house officers, resident doctors and a consultant had been in self-isolation after coming in contact with COVID-19 patients. A doctor had died as a result of the disease, while two doctors in the state had also tested positive for the virus.

In Kwara State, no fewer than 65 nurses and midwives are to remain in isolation, while 14 doctors at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital who have been in self-isolation may resume work next week after testing negative for the virus.

About 79 nurses and midwives were placed in self-isolation, out of which 14 had tested negative twice and are likely to resume next week, while the remaining 65 are still in self- isolation until the result of their second test is out. They had tested negative after the first test.

The health workers were made to self-isolate following the death of a suspected COVID-19 patient who allegedly was admitted at the Accident and Emergency ward of the hospital without disclosing that he was a suspected carrier of the virus.

The patient was admitted in the hospital for food poisoning on April 1 but died the following day and was buried in his home in Offa without his samples taken for COVID-19 test.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association in the state, Dr Mohammed Solagberu, said,

“14 medical doctors of UITH are in self-isolation. I think they have completed the two weeks isolation, they have tested negative and have not shown symptoms of COVID-19. They are likely to resume next Monday.”

Also, the state chairman, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Alhaji Shehu Aminu, said the 14 nurses and midwives who had tested negative twice would resume next week, adding that the remaining 65 were still in self- isolation.

He added,

“They didn’t have contact with the suspected coronavirus victim but they were exposed to the deceased for one or two days. None of them has shown symptoms of COVID-19.”

The head of UITH branch of the Association of Resident Doctors, Dr Lanre Olosunde, also said, “The doctors as of now are in self-isolation and they are doing fine. I can’t tell you the number but they will resume (work) as soon as the NCDC clears them.”

Meanwhile, UITH Public Relations Officer, Mrs Elizabeth Ajiboye, declined responding to enquiries when contacted by one of our correspondents.

However, the NMA Chairman in Lagos State, Dr Saliu Oseni, told one of our correspondents that there were about 50 health workers in isolation in the state, noting that people should disclose their health status and travel history so as not to endanger health workers.

He said,

“We have quite a number of doctors in Lagos now that are under self-isolation because patients present themselves in the hospital denying their status and they expose our colleagues.

“I don’t think we have less than 50 health workers in self- isolation currently, from different hospitals. That is why we have been pleading with the government that they should provide protective gears and that is why we are saying we don’t want private hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients. They should identify the patient, diagnose and refer to the isolation centre.”

Punch Newspaper