Lagos state commissioner for Health Professor Akin Abayomi has said that one hundred and eighty-one students and staff of a private boarding school in the Lekki area of the state have tested positive for COVID-19, and were discovered during surveillance and case investigation in the school.
The state’s ministry for health in a statement by the Director of Public Affairs, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, the commissioner said the positive cases were detected during surveillance and case investigation in the school.
According to the commissioner, a 14-year-old senior secondary school one female student fell I’ll on October 3 and was sent home after receiving first aid at the school.
He said the student later tested positive for COVID-19 on October 6 with an additional 180 cases detected later.
There are 441 students and staff in the school, while parents of the students have been contacted and counselled to further allay their fears.
Prof. Abayomi assured citizens that the situation is under control with the appropriate steps being taken to contain the spread and manage the positive cases.
“There is a total lockdown and movement restriction in the school with the Epidemiology and Surveillance Pillar of the EOC and Ibeju-Lekki LGA State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO) reporting at the school daily to conduct further investigation while positive students and staff have been isolated on the premises and given the COVID-19 home-care treatment packs and are being monitored in isolation within the school premises,” the Lagos state commissioner for health said.
“Students are to be isolated in the school premises and if unwell will be admitted in one of the accredited isolation centers in Lagos,” he said.
“Students are discouraged from going home to avoid infecting members of their families.
“I am pleased to announce that all the infected students are predominantly asymptomatic while some have very mild symptoms, no student has required hospitalization.
“COVID-19 is still very much with us and we must strive to prioritize the safety of all, including students and teachers, by adhering strictly to prevention protocols and guidelines issued by government to prevent its spread.”
By Abel Ejikeme