Authorities in Cross River State have dismissed reports of 10 new cases of COVID-19, clarifying that only one confirmed infection has been recorded in the state.
The State Commissioner for Health, Henry Ayuk, made the clarification on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, attributing the confusion to a misinterpretation of contact tracing data.
“I want to use this opportunity to tell Nigerians that the information that has gone around that 10 more cases have been identified in Cross River is not correct; we have only one case,” Ayuk said.
He explained that the misinformation likely stemmed from reports indicating that 10 individuals had been identified as contacts of the infected patient, which was mistakenly reported as confirmed cases.
The lone case involves a Chinese national who arrived in Nigeria on March 17 and later travelled to Calabar for work. The patient tested positive for the virus on April 17 after exhibiting symptoms.
According to Ayuk, the individual is currently receiving treatment at an isolation centre in Calabar and is responding well.
“He is currently being kept and managed effectively… He is doing well, and he is getting better on a daily basis,” the commissioner said.
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He added that all identified contacts are under close monitoring for a 14-day incubation period to prevent further spread.
Ayuk noted that the state government activated its emergency response mechanisms immediately after confirming the case, including surveillance systems and risk management structures across affected areas.
“It’s an outbreak, and for us… when you have a case, it’s a risk to the whole, so we are not taking it lightly,” he said.
Health authorities have urged residents to remain calm while adhering to preventive measures, stressing that the situation is under control and being actively managed.