First COVID-19 Case Confirmed In Nnamdi Azikiwe Varsity Hospital

The Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) has confirmed its first case of the novel coronavirus.

The information was shared by Professor Anthony Igwegbe, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital.

Disclosing the development on Monday, May 25, 2020, Igwegbe said the patient was diagnosed with the virus after a test upon reaching the hospital.

According to him, the test result was released on May 23 after which the patient was moved to one of the isolation centres in Anambra for treatment.

He said:

The patient was quickly moved from our isolation ward to the Anambra State Treatment Centre last night for care and treatment.

This patient, a male resident in Onitsha, was admitted to the isolation ward following proper triage on his presentation on May 20.

Specimen for the test was taken the following day and sent to Irrua.”

Igwegbe said that a suspected case was brought in earlier but the test sample was not taken before the patient died.

“That was a probable cause, the patient showed some symptoms but the sample was not taken before the patient died. So we have only one confirmed case of COVID-19 in NAUTH so far“, he stated.

The CMD added that all the necessary precautions were taken and that all those who attended to the confirmed case made use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).

He assured that the medical facility would remain vigilant.