53-Year-Old Chinese Tests Positive for COVID-19 in C’River, Govt Says No Cause for Alarm
By Missang AKPET
The Cross River State Government has confirmed a case of COVID-19 involving a 53-year-old Chinese expatriate working in Akamkpa Local Government Area, marking the state’s first officially recorded case since 2022.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, disclosed this to journalists in Calabar on Tuesday, stating that the patient is currently isolated at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital and responding well to treatment.
According to Ayuk, the expatriate arrived in Nigeria via Lagos on March 17, 2026, before traveling to Calabar en-route to a factory in Akamkpa. He first showed mild symptoms at a clinic in Akamkpa and was promptly referred to UCTH, where samples were collected and the infection confirmed.
“We have activated all necessary procedures, including contact tracing and isolation, to prevent further spread. We deliberately delayed a public announcement until diagnostic protocols were completed to avoid misinformation" Ayuk said.
"I assure urge residents to be calm as the situation is under control, the state is safe and there is no cause for alarm, but we must all play our part,” Ayuk said.
He adviced strict adherence to preventive measures: hand hygiene, vaccination, use of face masks as well as avoiding close contact with suspected cases.
The State Epidemiologist, Dr. Inyang Ekpenyong, said the Emergency Operations Centre has been activated and rapid response teams deployed to Akamkpa while contact tracing and daily monitoring of exposed individuals are ongoing within the virus’ 2–14 day incubation period.
She added that recent low visibility of cases was likely due to widespread vaccination and mild, unreported infections, as COVID-19 symptoms often resemble malaria.
The State Coordinator of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr. Olatunde Rebecca, stressed the need for sustained surveillance, risk communication, and testing. She warned that misinformation worsens outbreak outcomes reiterating that COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces.
Residents were urged to promptly report symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, or breathing difficulties to health facilities.
