NewStats: 3,263,963 , 8,182,096 topics. Date: Monday, 09 June 2025 at 05:02 AM h1i4f

Coronavirus patient attempts to escape Lagos isolation centre

…over poor facilities, excessive heat, mosquitoes;
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•Face masks, hand sanitisers sale soars;

Following the detection of the first case of the novel Coronavirus disease and the placing in quarantine of the patient, identified as a 44-year-old Italian, at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos, a health worker at the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, said on Friday that the patient was angry and attempted to escape, given the state of the isolation centre.

The high ranking health worker, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity on Friday, decried the ‘very poor quality’ of the isolation centre, lamenting that “the authorities have not matched words with action.”

Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, had said on Friday that the state government had built a facility to handle the situation, adding that the patient was getting better.

He said, “It is a lab that we built that can accommodate 100 for now but it is only one bed that is occupied today. Hopefully it wouldn’t spread. We are ready and we are well equipped. He (the patient) is there and he is getting better. He is steady. The doctors say he is going to be fine.’’

But the health worker told our correspondent that the Coronavirus index case had been “very upset about” the surrounding, adding that the patient “complained of excessive heat and mosquitoes.”

In an interaction with our correspondent, the health worker, who did not wear any personal protective equipment required of workers in such an environment, said, “The patient wanted to run away yesterday (Friday). The Italian man, who seems to be an engineer, was very angry that the room where he was kept was very hot.

“There is nothing there (inside the isolation ward) aside from bed and hospital locker. He almost ran away and is still threatening to do that.

The source said the level of preparedness in Lagos State for infectious diseases such as Coronavirus and Lassa fever “is zero.”

An online entry describes the Mainland Hospital, where the Italian is being quarantined, as “an ultra-modern multi-drug resistant tuberculosis treatment centre, with a 40-bed ission facility.”

Our source, who emerged from the Out Patient Department of the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, alleged that Lagos State did not have the facility to accommodate individuals who might have come in with the Italian.

According to the source, the facility that is meant to accommodate both suspected and confirmed Coronavirus cases is still undergoing renovation “and might take a while” before it can function fully.

He also revealed that the isolation area was a room in one of the wards, and that it was quickly vacated to accommodate the index case.

The source alleged, “The only thing demarcating the room from other rooms in the ward is a red and white barricade tape. That is where the Italian man that tested positive to Coronavirus is kept.

“There is no single equipment inside that place. It is just like any other regular hospital room with a bed. That building you see that is being repainted is the original place meant to quarantine Coronavirus patients.

“As you can see, the place is not ready. The state government is just renovating it, despite the fact that the virus started spreading since December 2019. It is really sad that a country like Nigeria is never ready to medically contain infectious disease outbreak.

“This is why most health workers leave because they are predisposed to danger of infection.”

According to the source, the Mainland Hospital does not have a ready and designated facility to isolate and treat Lassa fever patients, much less Coronavirus. The source noted that the place earmarked for Lassa fever treatment had yet to be completed.

The source said, “The place meant for Lassa fever patient has been under construction in the past one month. It is not yet completed. As you can see, they are makeshift structures, hurriedly put together with white tarpaulin.

“They are not permanent structures and I don’t know how this place can actually accommodate humans that have a highly infectious disease like Lassa fever,” he said.

The health worker noted that despite the fact that the state government had been able to track some persons that had had with the index Coronavirus patient, they could not be quarantined, allegedly because the state lack requisite facility.

The source added, “The standard medical operational procedure is to track all s and have them quarantined to avoid further spread of the virus. But we cannot do that here because we lack such facility, which is why there is emphasis on self quarantine.

“Even where the Italian man is presently being isolated was a room vacated by a patient. I pray God saves us in the coming months because we are not ready for the danger posed by the Coronavirus.”

Another health worker in the hospital, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the patient was being isolated in Ward C.

The source said, “When the Italian was brought here, he was taken immediately to a room for isolation. He is there and we are still expecting more in the coming days.”

A nurse at the facility, who appeared unconcerned by the situation on the ground, was seen walking out of the isolation area without wearing personal protective equipment.

When asked why she was not wearing a face mask and gloves, she answered our correspondent with a tinge of sarcasm; “What is coronavirus?” she asked.

“Gloves and face masks cannot do anything. We have been working here for years with people that have deadly diseases. At last, all of us will die,” she quipped as she walked away.

https://punchng.com/coronavirus-patient-attempts-to-escape-lagos-isolation-centre/

Hmmmmmmmm.
Where should i start from? Is it the poor facilities that d govt (not)provided or d useless Italian that wanted 2 run. If there is no light or fan, let him buy 4 his own personal use now. Afterall many well-to-do families do that in 9ja.
I once saw a family that brought a generator and fan to one hospital in sagamu when i was serving there in 2010 because it was hot and there was no light.

That man is stingy and wicked wallahi! Haba! he could have done such even 4 his own PERSONAL USE!

A serious government would have taken care of this killer Italian

APC is a useless bunch

Trust the Nigerian govt at your own detriment. We just have to rely solely on God to help us in this country.
BTW thought the govt said they were fully prepared for this and also this lying govt shouldn't try to play games as they usually do on serious matter cause this is no respecter of persons or position.

The lies of the APC government are gradually being exposed.

Uhmmm

And lie Muhammed was dancing up and down shouting we are prepared...

The other s on hearing this news will run away.

The problem is when they are traced and found, they will be kept in the same room with this man even if though many of them may not have the virus.

That means they'll definitely get infected while quarantined. And if they run away as potential cases, they may keep spreading the disease. this guy reported himself to the health authorities, many others won't.

Borders will be closed soon in the usual firebrigade nigerian approach only when many people have gotten the infection and it has spiralled out of control.

That virus is already spreading in Lagos, it is most probably in Abuja. Let's stop deceiving ourselves with wishful thinking and be realistic.

The Nurse' statement in the last paragraph makes me indifferent towards this popular nose covering.

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ERockson:
The Nurse' statement in the last paragraph makes me indifferent towards this popular nose covering.

[color=#990000]

ERockson:
The Nurse' statement in the last paragraph makes me indifferent towards this popular nose covering.

ERockson:
The Nurse' statement in the last paragraph makes me indifferent towards this popular nose covering.

Exactly!
Imagine o!
Coming from a "trained" personnel?
God take d wheel pls!

Lobatan
Na my fear be this

I want to believe in our country but this is the reality.
(Mr. Lai was being a bit economical with the truth):

The source added, “The standard medical operational procedure is to track all s and have them quarantined to avoid further spread of the virus. But we cannot do that here because we lack such facility, which is why there is emphasis on self quarantine.

“Even where the Italian man is presently being isolated was a room vacated by a patient. I pray God saves us in the coming months because we are not ready for the danger posed by the Coronavirus.”

The source alleged, “The only thing demarcating the room from other rooms in the ward is a red and white barricade tape. That is where the Italian man that tested positive to Coronavirus is kept.”

OZAOEKPE:
And lie Muhammed was dancing up and down shouting we are prepared...

The punishment wey dey wait for that man in particular after his long life of lies no go dey funny at all!!!

I was telling somebody yesterday that from now till the next two to one month, we are in for a long thing in this country.

A lot of people are going to be infected because the govt of the day is not being sincere, serious and proactive about this disease.

Man Don see first hand Naija accommodation and wan japa

ZombieHUNT:
A serious government would have taken care of this killer Italian

Execution style right?

Tell him we are sorry, he shiuld manage it like dat cus na wetin we get


he know say our condition for this corntree get as e b why he come dey ply hin trade here..

And if he do yanmayanma, make we do the north korea abeg.

This nurse no get chill.
All die na die

D kind of heat and mosquito dis days eh....I can only imagine what dat guy is getting
I'm sure the guy prefer the bullet he was expecting than d so called quarantine.... No hope of recovery in such area

Over to Lai Mohammed.

That guy get plans oo

But the health worker told our correspondent that the Coronavirus index case had been “very upset about” the surrounding, adding that the patient “complained of excessive heat and mosquitoes.”

In an interaction with our correspondent, the health worker, who did not wear any personal protective equipment required of workers in such an environment, said, “The patient wanted to run away yesterday (Friday). The Italian man, who seems to be an engineer, was very angry that the room where he was kept was very hot.

“There is nothing there (inside the isolation ward) aside from bed and hospital locker. He almost ran away and is still threatening to do that.

The source said the level of preparedness in Lagos State for infectious diseases such as Coronavirus and Lassa fever “is zero.”

Every man for himself.

You quarantine people to eaten be bitten/eaten by mosquito with heat...
Which kind rubbish is that?
If you're trying to kill the man,make una just kill am,don't give him some inhumane treatment...
Provide big TV With dstv Explorer .
If he plays Console,provide ps4.
If he ogogoro wont damage his health further,provide Hennesy or Martel.
Give him unlimited internet.
Give him fresh juice.


Una dey boast of readiness for weeks ,I dey tell someone say this APC believe everything na politics ...

Hope all this is not a conspiracy by the government to spend money not budgeted for as we are yet to see this phantom Italian man without name and face. Anyways, let us just be very careful and follow precautions!!