FRI, FEB 28 2020-theG&BJournal- The social networking site, Facebook, has pledged to partner with the Federal Government of Nigeria to check the spread of fake news and disinformation in the wake of the outbreak of the confirmed coronavirus case in Lagos, Nigeria, the Minister of Information and Cultue Alhaji Lai Mohammed said Friday at a press briefing in Abuja.
The Minister expressed concern that the ‘’purveyors of fake news’’ will scale up their act to create panic and spread disinformation, following the confirmation of the disease in Nigeria.
‘’We know that at times like this, purveyors of fake news and disinformation usually ramp up their acts. We are therefore urging Nigerians not to fall for the antics of purveyors of fake news and disinformation.’’
He said, ‘’fortunately, Facebook is working with us in this regard. They have asked Nigerians to report any false or misleading report on Facebook and Instagram pages so they can immediately bring them down. They have also assured us that they are taking preemptive action to remove ant false or harmful messages about the epidemic and public health in Nigeria 24/7.’’
He called on Nigerians to flag any false or misleading report on the epidemic ‘’and Facebook will remove any such report.’’
The Minister said media agencies of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, like the NTA, FRCN, NAN and VON, have been directed to intensify their ongoing sensitization and enlightenment campaigns to arm Nigerians with the necessary information to well.
The minister noted the measures being taken as; enlightenment jingles on radio and television, up-to-date reports on the efforts being made by Nigeria health authorities to ensure proper screening at the nation’s gateways and also handle possible cases, continued airing of documentaries on the disease by the NTA and SMS sensitization messages being sent to Nigerians by the News Agency of Nigeria.
The minister appealed to Nigerians not to panic, as the government is ‘’well equipped to detect and handle any possible case or cases.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has updated the ‘’Surveillance Case Definitions for COVID-19’’ (Version2)
The definition is outlined in three categories;
Suspect case:
Any person (including severely ill patients) with fever, cough or difficulty in breathing and who within 14 days before the onset of illness has any of the following exposures: 1) History of travel tto any country with confirmed and ongoing community transmission of SARS-CoV2
OR 2) Close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19
Or 3) Exposure to a healthcare facility where COVID-19 case (s) have been reported.
Probable Case
A suspect case for whom testing for COVID-19 is inconclusive or for whom testing was positiveon a pan-coronavirus assay.
Confirmed Case
A person with laboratory confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 infection with or without signs and symptoms.
As at 28/02/2020, countries with ongoing community transmission are China, Republic of Korea, Iran, Italy and Japan.
(If you have a patient that matches the case definition above please contact NCDC to arrange for sample collection and testing on 07032864444).
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire led the weekly press briefing on COVID-19 today assuring that the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health has been strengthening measures to ensure an outbreak in Nigeria is ‘’controlled and contained quickly.’’ He also confirmed a coronavirus case in Lagos State Nigeria, an Italian who came into the country from Milan, Italy for a brief business trip.
Ehanire said in his briefing that the Ministry of Health was already working on tracing the individual’s contacts.
The World Health Organisation has increased its COVID-19 risk assessment to ‘’very high at a global level, prompted by the spread of the disease to nearly 50 countries.
Nike Ryan, executive director, health emergency program at WHO said ‘’we are on the highest level of alert or highest level of risk assessment in terms of spread and in terms of impact. This is a reality check for every government on the planet: wake up get ready, this virus may be on its way and you need to be ready. You have a duty to your citizens, you have a duty to the world to be ready.’’
|twitter:@theGBJournal|email: info@govandbusinessjournal.com.ng|
