The government of Cross River State has confirmed a new case of COVID-19. The State Commissioner for Health, Henry Egbe Ayuk, disclosed this on Tuesday in Calabar, assuring residents that the situation is under control and there is no cause for panic.
According to Ayuk, the case involves a 53-year-old Chinese expatriate who arrived in Nigeria through Lagos on March 17, 2026, before traveling to a factory in Akamkpa Local Government Area, where symptoms were first noticed.
He explained that the patient initially showed mild symptoms and was later taken to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), where samples were collected and the infection was confirmed. The patient is currently receiving treatment at the state’s designated isolation centre and is said to be responding well.
Ayuk noted that the government delayed announcing the case until all diagnostic procedures were completed to prevent misinformation, adding that surveillance systems across the state have been strengthened. He also confirmed that contact tracing and isolation measures have been activated to curb any possible spread.
Also speaking, State Epidemiologist, Inyang Ekpenyong, said this is the first officially recorded case in the state since 2022. She explained that even a single confirmed infection is considered an outbreak, prompting the activation of the Emergency Operations Centre and deployment of rapid response teams.
Ekpenyong added that all identified contacts are being monitored daily within the virus’s incubation period of two to 14 days. She further noted that some COVID-19 cases may go undetected due to mild symptoms or similarities with illnesses like malaria, including fever, cough, and sore throat.