[BREAKING] Coronavirus: NCDC boss, Ihekweazu, quarantines self at home

The Director-General of National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, has quarantined himself at home over possible infection of Coronavirus.

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, made the revelation Tuesday when he appeared before the leadership of the Senate to brief the lawmakers on proactive measures put in place to curtail in Nigeria, the spread of the deadly scourge, Coronavirus.

Honourable Ehanire who further disclosed that Dr Ihekweazu, travelled to China to understudy the behavioural pattern of the Coronavirus, but had to be quarantined in his residence upon his return, said the NCDC boss would be quarantined for 14-days in line with established safety procedure against Coronavirus.

On measures in place, the Minister told the leadership of the Senate that there Isolation Centers have been established in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt to respond to any emergency.

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He said: “We were honoured that one of the scientists that the World Health Organisation, (WHO) had chosen to go to China to study the disease was the DG of NCDC.

“They went there for nine days, during which they carry out an investigation. But we have already established rules here that anybody who has been to China will be self-quarantined.

“Chikwe has gone (to China) and come back and has done the test. It’s negative, but we have insisted that he must undergo the 14-days of quarantine which is why he is not here today.

“It’s not allowed to come out until after 14-days because if you make rules, you must also obey them, which is to set an example for Nigerians that the head of NCDC is self-quarantine as we speak. He’s very well but he has to follow the rules.”