29th February, 2020
A man from Edo state, Nigeria, identified as Jude, has come out to refute claims that his name is Adewale and that he has CoronaVirus, which he contracted from the Italian he drove to Ogun state, from Lagos. The man who is from Esan land in Edo said he hasn’t been to Lagos in 2 years and that the news is completely fake. He, therefore, pleaded with the public to disregard the rumor.
Reports made the rounds on Friday after a 44-year-old Italian man was diagnosed with the virus and some news sites released the picture of Jude, stating that he demanded to be paid N100M after escaping and threatening to spread the disease.
Read some reactions on Twitter.
NIGERIA'S National Center for Disease Control
080097000010
SMS 08099555577
WHATSAPP 07087110839
STOP Sharing #Fakenews. Demand more information from @NCDCgov
This man is NOT the "Italian" index patient's driver #IJCovid19 #coronavirusnigeria #COVID19Nigeria #DrKemiOlunloyo pic.twitter.com/lnKkVwDZ9Y— Dr Kemi Olunloyo (Pharm.D)💊😷 (@KemiOlunloyo) February 29, 2020
All the International Media I've seen are commending the proactiveness mode of Nigeria government on the confinement of the #CoronaVirus, while our own local Media outlets have been busy publishing #FakeNews that are causing despair among their fellow citizens.
Cursed Souls!
— TallJohn🌍 (@JohnFanimokun) February 29, 2020
#FakeNews Alert📢📢📢
Video: Hear from the imagined driver that was reported to have escaped from the quarantine facilility by some useless Nigeria media(@AIT_Online & co).#COVID19Nigeria #CoronaVirus pic.twitter.com/CYxXiK3Qbb
— TallJohn🌍 (@JohnFanimokun) February 29, 2020
The Italian patient was screened when he arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday and did not show any symptoms of the virus, according to Nigerian health authorities.
There are 4 diagnostic testing facilities for Coronavirus, ready for Nigeria – One at the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja, another one at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital Lagos, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) Edo State and Redeemer University in Osun State. The patient is currently being quarantined in a Centre for Disease Control in Yaba, Lagos.