Covid-19 reappears as Cross River cases record

Cross River on Tuesday announced that a case of Covid-19 infection has been confirmed in the state.

The state’s Health Commissioner, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, who was present in Calabar, said emergency response measures had been activated to contain the potential spread.

He revealed that the confirmed case involved a 53-year-old Chinese expatriate who arrived in Nigeria via Lagos on March 17, 2026, and then proceeded to a factory in Akamkpa Local Government Area, where symptoms were first detected.

According to Ayuk, the patient initially showed mild symptoms and was referred to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), where samples were collected and confirmed to be infected.

“The patient is currently receiving care at a state-designated isolation and treatment center and is responding well to treatment,” he said.

The commissioner explained that the government is delaying public announcements until diagnostic protocols are completed to avoid misinformation, and emphasized that the country remains vigilant in disease surveillance. “We have activated all necessary procedures, including contact tracing and isolation, to prevent further spread,” he added.

State Epidemiologist, Dr. Inyang Ekmenyong, said this case is the first officially recorded case in Cross River since 2022, and noted that even one confirmed infection already qualifies as an outbreak. “With just one case, we activated the Emergency Operations Center. Rapid response teams have been deployed, and contact tracing is ongoing,” he said.

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Ekmenyong added that identified contacts are monitored daily during the virus incubation period of two to 14 days. He noted that many cases of COVID-19 may go undetected because symptoms are mild or similar to malaria, including fever, cough and sore throat.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Jonah Offor, commended the coordinated efforts between the state government and partners, including the World Health Organization and the Nigerian Center for Disease Control. Also speaking, WHO Country Coordinator, Dr. Olatunde Rebecca, stressed the need for continued surveillance and warned against misinformation, describing it as a major risk during the outbreak.

He said COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces, urging residents to maintain preventive measures such as hand hygiene, use of masks when necessary, and physical distancing.

Special Advisor to the Governor for Health, Dr. Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, said the state had strengthened its outbreak response capacity, enabling early detection and rapid intervention. Health authorities urge citizens to remain calm, adhere to safety guidelines, and immediately report symptoms to health facilities.

COVID-19 was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and the pandemic officially began spreading globally in early 2020. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a public health emergency on January 30, 2020, and named the virus COVID-19 on February 11, 2020.

Many countries in the world, including Nigeria, have implemented lockdowns in an effort to contain the spread of this deadly virus.