FG TO REVIEW RESUMPTION DATE FOR SCHOOLS

The Federal government has decided that the earlier extension of resumption date for primary and secondary schools to the 13th October be reviewed to the middle of September.

Addressing state House correspondents after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting, the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu said the decision to review the extension of resumption date was based on the recommendation of a body of experts set up by government to look at the extension of resumption dates for primary and secondary schools. According to the Minister, the Minister of Education was directed by council to convene an emergency meeting with all states commissioners of Education in order to agree on when schools can resume nationwide.

Professor Chukwu who briefed council on the status of the Ebola Virus in the country said that

Only two patients of the Ebola Virus Disease are under treatment in Nigeria with one each in Lagos and Portharcourt.

He explained that since the out break of the Ebola Virus Disease in the country, a total of 18 persons have been infected, out of which 14 were in Lagos and 4 in Portharcourt.

That while 8 patients have been successfully treated and discharged, seven persons including the Liberian American have so far died of the disease.

Professor Chukwu noted that out of the 361 persons that were under surveillance in Lagos, only 41 are still under surveillance while 320 hitherto under surveillance have been discharged from Lagos since the disease broke in Nigeria.

The Health Minister further revealed that in Portharcourt, 255 persons are under surveillance adding that the corpse of the medical doctor who died in Portharcourt has been buried after being decontaminated.

On the fate of the Staff of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) staff who evaded surveillance and traveled to Portharcourt where he infected a doctor, the Minister said government was working on three options namely, strenghtening the quarantine law, seeking advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on what action to take on the ECOWAS staff as well as seeking legal advice from the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on what legal action can be taken against him.

Professor Chukwu appealed to Nigerians to avoid spreading unsubstantiated rumour especially on the social media saying this was capable of creating unnecessary panic and fear amongst the populace.