Lagos discovers 119 people with COVID-19 symptoms in house to house search

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said a total of 119 people with COVID-19 symptoms have been identified in the state following a house to house search.

Abayomi disclosed this at a press briefing on Tuesday, April 14. He said a total of 118,000 households had been reached in the search of possible COVID-19 cases in communities.

The Lagos State Government had announced on Thursday, April 9, that it has commenced a house to house search to find possible Coronavirus patients (read here). He said community search was activated to limit the spread of the disease in the state which had the highest number of COVID-19 patients in the country.

The search yielded 119 people showing symptoms that are suggestive of COVID-19.

Abayomi said: “We’ve embarked on an active case search in communities. The idea is to go to hot spots and go from door to door with our health personnel.

“So far, in the last two days, we’ve visited 118,000 households and we’re looking for the typical symptoms of COVID-19.

“We’ve identified about 119 people who have the symptoms that are suggestive of COVID-19.

“But let me remind you that COVID-19 is one of the viruses that can cause respiratory symptoms. There are many viruses. So, the idea is to take samples from these 119 and analyse them and that would give us an idea of how much COVID-19 activity is happening in the communities.”

He said those identified to have COVID-19 will be taken to the isolation centres, in order to reduce the opportunities for transmission.