13 Lagos Medical Workers Were Exposed To The Dead COVID-19 Patient - Commissioner

No fewer than 13 medical workers at the Randle General Hospital, Surulere, may have been exposed to a COVID-19 patient who died at the medical facility.

The PUNCH learnt on Sunday that the workers, including doctors, would be tested for the virus by a team from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Monday.

Our correspondent had exclusively reported that a 65-year-old woman, identified as Iyabo, was admitted to the hospital last Sunday after she complained of difficulty in breathing.

The petty trader, who also had diabetes, was said to have been treated before some doctors insisted that she should be tested for the coronavirus.

She was later taken to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba, where she was rejected after medical personnel there allegedly claimed that she did not fit a COVID-19 case.

The woman, who was also hypertensive, was returned to Randle where she died.

Apprehensive workers at the hospital were informed on Friday that the result of the NCDC test confirmed that she was positive.

The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Aduke Odutayo, who confirmed the case to our correspondent, said the NCDC was on top of the situation.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, who also confirmed the report, said there was no cause for alarm.

He said, “The MD informed the permanent secretary about the case. The MD said there were two doctors who attended to the woman at the emergency section and the two doctors were isolated.

“However, after identifying the two doctors, about 12 to 13 others stepped forward and said they also attended to her.

“Because she could not isolate all of them at the same time, she asked that they be tested. The permanent secretary has said he would ensure they are tested on Monday and afterward, they will be isolated. So, there is nothing to panic about.”

Asked if the hospital would be shut to the public due to the situation, Omotosho said the permanent secretary had ruled out the option.

“He said there would be no need to shut down a facility because of that, and they would only disinfect it and there is a process for that,” he added.