Apapa port in Lagos State, Nigeria, has recorded its first coronavirus case after the dreaded virus hit Tin Can port, also in Lagos.
The case is an employee of APM Terminals Apapa, Nigeria’s largest container terminal.
APMT confirmed the development on Tuesday, saying the case was last seen at the port on April 16, 2020, but his COVID-19 infection was confirmed on April 27.
A statement issued by the company’s general manager, External Relations, Daniel Odibe, reads, “APM Terminals hereby informs the port community and general public of a positive COVID-19 case concerning a staff of APM Terminals, Apapa. The said employee’s last day at work was on April 16, 2020.
“The employee developed malaria symptoms and was referred to a hospital where he was initially treated before he was referred to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for further test. We were informed on April 27, 2020, that the test result came out positive.
“The case is currently being handled by NCDC while we continue with our precautionary and response plans in strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocol.”
Nigeria’s COVID-19 cases reached 1,337 on Monday with 40 deaths, but 255 had recovered, leaving the country’s active cases at1,042.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday announced relaxation of lockdown in Lagos and other states effective May 4.
The country’s testing figures remained low at 10,933 as of Monday, April 27.
