193 Nigerians evacuated from Ukraine tested positive for COVID-19, says FG

THE Federal Government has disclosed that 193 Nigerians evacuated from Ukraine have tested positive for COVID-19 and are being managed according to the nation’s protocols.

The government has also announced that it has revised the the International Travel Protocols, which should come into effect on Monday, 4th April, 2022.

Secretary to the Goverment of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, made this known on Monday night during the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 national briefing in Abuja.

This is the first briefing to be held by the PSC since December 2021 and for the year 2022.

Mustapha, who is the Chairman of PSC, revealed that the Port Health Services had so far screened about 2,357 Nigerians evacuated from Ukraine for COVID-19 out of the over 8,000 residents or students living in Ukraine.

“Out of these passengers, 193 tested positive to COVID-19 and are managed according to our protocols,” he said.

According to him, PSC has reviewed situations around the world and applies such to the situation in Nigeria and have revised the International Travel Protocols.

He further disclosed that Nigeria has vaccinated over 20 million persons with at least the first dose.

He said: “We still have the National Response in place as we continue to monitor global trends and adapt them with our situation in country.

“There has been a consistent decline in number of cases around the world but that does not give us the leverage to let our guards down yet because there are predictions of rebounds as we can see in China, South Korea, Germany, Vietnam, France, Hong Kong, among others.

“In fact, China has reintroduced lockdowns in some cities due to the spike in cases.

“So far, the world has recorded over 471 million confirmed cases, six million deaths and over 11 billion vaccine doses administered, while in Nigeria, we have recorded 255,103 and 3,142 persons have died as a result of COVID-19.

“We have vaccinated over 20 million persons with at least the first dose. These number is not very encouraging, hence, the need for all eligible Nigerians to come out and be vaccinated.

“However, the PSC has reviewed these situations around the world and applies such to the situation in Nigeria and have revised the International Travel Protocols, which should come into effect on Monday, 4th April, 2022 as follows:

“In-bound (fully vaccinated) passengers arriving in Nigeria will no longer be required to take a pre-departure PCR COVID-19 Test.”