Health Minister Osagie Ehanire Reveals Why Travellers Are Not Isolated

Nigerian Health Minister,  Dr Osagie Ehanire has revealed why travellers are not isolated upon arriving Nigeria. 

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday February 28, in company of the Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, and top officials of the Federal Ministry of Health, following the outbreak of coronavirus in Lagos, the Minister said they were only following the directives of the World Health Organization (WHO). 

Ehanire said; 

“The question of quarantine; the World Health Organisation advises everybody, all countries that there is no need to put every single traveller into quarantine.

"There are some other countries who choose to do differently but we followed the guidelines of the World Health Organisation which states that ‘screen all persons who are entering your country, take their travel history; if they are coming from a country that has a burden of coronavirus, invite them for further questioning.”

He further disclosed that the United Nations agency recommended that newly arrived travellers should also be advised to stay in isolation for 14 days, in the interest of their family and loved ones.