Govt alerts Nigerians to COVID-19 case in Cross River

Ebun Emmanuel – April 21, 2026

The Cross River State Government has alert the public to a confirmed case of COVID-19, adding that it activated its public health emergency response mechanisms to contain any potential spread.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, disclosed this on Tuesday in Calabar, assuring residents that the situation is under control.

He said, “The confirmed case involves a 53-year-old Chinese expatriate who arrived Nigeria about a month ago and works in a company in the Akamkpa Local Government Area.”

According to him, the patient, who initially presented mild symptoms, was later admitted to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, where samples were collected and the infection confirmed

“The patient is currently receiving care at the state’s designated isolation and treatment centre and is responding well to treatment,” the commissioner said.

He emphasised that the government deliberately delayed public announcement until all diagnostic protocols were completed to avoid misinformation, adding that the state remains vigilant in disease surveillance and response.

Ayuk noted that global interconnectedness continues to expose populations to infectious diseases, stressing that COVID-19, like other outbreaks, is not peculiar to Nigeria.

“We are living in a world of mobile populations, and public health threats can easily cross borders. What matters is the capacity to detect and contain them promptly, and that is what we are doing.

“The state is safe. There is no cause for alarm, but we must all play our part in preventing the spread,” Ayuk said.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, said the state has improved significantly in outbreak response compared to previous years, noting that early detection and rapid intervention now prevent widespread transmission.