Fresh concerns over COVID-19 have emerged in Cross River State following the isolation of a Chinese national at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
The state government confirmed on Tuesday that the foreign national is under strict medical supervision after presenting symptoms linked to the virus.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Egbe Ayuk, who disclosed this in Calabar, said the patient is receiving treatment while health authorities intensify efforts to prevent any possible spread.
According to Ayuk, the individual arrived in Nigeria through Lagos on March 17, 2026, before travelling to Calabar en route to a factory in Akamkpa Local Government Area, where initial symptoms reportedly surfaced at a clinic.
He explained that the case was immediately escalated to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, where isolation protocols were activated without delay, prompting the state to trigger its emergency public health response.
“We have activated all necessary measures, including contact tracing and isolation, to contain any potential outbreak,” Ayuk stated, noting that the government is working closely with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
The commissioner, however, urged residents not to panic, assuring that the situation remains under control and that necessary safeguards are in place.
Also lending weight to the response efforts, the World Health Organisation’s state coordinator, Dr Olatunde Yewande, and the State Epidemiologist, Dr Inyang Ekpenyong, said surveillance has been strengthened across the state.
They reiterated that COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, can manifest through symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue and breathing difficulties.
Residents were advised to remain vigilant by observing preventive measures, including proper hygiene, vaccination, and avoiding close contact with suspected cases, as authorities stress that early detection and swift isolation are key to curbing transmission.