Ehanire: Every state should have isolation centre… even if it’s a hotel 

Osagie Ehanire, minister of health, has urged all states to have isolation centres for treatment of coronavirus. 

The minister, who spoke at a briefing by the presidential task force on coronavirus in Abuja on Monday, said he has been communicating with governors over the matter.

While admitting that there are some isolation centres for other contagious diseases across these states, Ehanire said hotels which have self-contained rooms could serve better in isolating COVID-19 cases. 

“As for isolation centres, we have been speaking with state governors, I was privileged to join in a teleconference with governors yesterday. And we discussed the issue of ceding out coronavirus from the main hubs to the states and also the isolation centres,” he said

“I urge every state to have an isolation centre. Many of them have isolation centres for other diseases for TB and some, but this particular pathogen, they are trying to use every means to get isolation centres. Even if it is a hotel, you can rent a hotel that has single rooms, self-contained rooms where each person can stay in their room and have the little comfort they are used to at home; you have your entertainment and you can last the 14 days observation that is required. 

“Mild up to moderate cases can even be treated in those areas, but we have also said every treatment and isolation centre whether at the federal or state level must be accredited as be fit to handle treatment of the disease that can be so terribly infectious because there is high risk not only to other people around there but even to staff who are doing the treatment. 

“As you know, in Europe, many people who are helping to treat coronavirus have themselves become infected. So, we must know that you have people there who have been taught the protocol for treating coronavirus and have learnt and are well supervised, and the facility properly inspected by a team.”

The minister said a team headed by Akin Abayomi, Lagos commissioner of health, accredits every centre that wants to handle coronavirus. 

The minister also added that patients who test negative twice would be discharged.  

“We discharge patients when they look well and tested negative twice and it’s proven you don’t have the virus in your system and it usually takes three to four weeks or a bit longer. If you test negative, and after 24 or 48 hours you test negative again, then you are good to go. So anybody who meets this criteria would be declared free to go home,” he said.