The Rivers State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health has established a Multi-sectoral Emergency Preparedness Technical Working Group specifically dedicated to reviewing the risk of Coronavirus importation and evaluation of the response pattern as the country records the first case in Lagos State.
This was made known during a media briefing in Port Harcourt, the state capital on the level of preparedness for the control of the disease.
Following the confirmation of the first case of Coronavirus in Lagos, authorities of the Rivers State Ministry of Health say due to the high risk of travels and trade traffic, they are working with the Federal Government, the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC and other relevant stakeholders to ensure maximum surveillance at all international entry points into the State.
The State Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the Ministry, Dr. Chinwe Tonye-Atata says so far no case of Coronavirus has occured in Rivers State and that its response team is prepared for any eventuality
She however urgues all the residents to maintain proper hygiene.
Rivers State was also placed on high alert during the outbreak of Ebola in 2014 so the espectation is that the State Government would equally do the needful this time around to protect all the citizens from the Coronavirus outbreak