Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi has said 48 per cent of COVID-19 patients in the state did not know they were carriers of the virus.
He noted that 16 per cent of the COVID-19 cases in the state had serious symptoms, while one per cent was in critical condition.
He said, “48 per cent of people infected with COVID-19 have very mild symptoms or even asymptomatic. Some of them don’t even know they’re carrying the virus.
“No fewer than 35 per cent of the COVID-19 patients know that they are not well, but they’re not that unwell to warrant them going to the hospital. But the 16 per cent of the cases with severe symptoms, and one per cent with a critical condition are all ideally to be managed under supervision in any one of our isolation facilities.
“Now there is a problem going on in Lagos, and that problem is that most people who have these symptoms will go and treat themselves for malaria first. By the time we get to know about them, it is usually a week afterward. Cough, fever, shortness of breath, weakness, chest pain, loss of taste, loss of appetite and catarrh are not symptoms of malaria. So yes, if you have a fever, I agree if you have body pain, but if you have a cough, and catarrh and loss of smell or taste, and we’re in a pandemic that is actively transmitting itself in the community, it is likely to be COVID-19 or less likely to be malaria or typhoid.”
The commissioner added that the state had concluded plans to inaugurate 10 oxygen centres to manage critical cases.
According to him, the centres at Maternal and Child Centre, Eti Osa; General Hospital, Alimosho and the General Hospital Isolo have been completed, while the centre at Primary Health Centre, Aguda, Surulere will be completed next week.
Seven oxygen centres will be completed in two weeks, according to the commissioner.
The centres are located on the premises of General Hospital, Gbagada; Maternal and Child Centre, Ifako Ijaiye; Primary Healthcare Centre, Ibeju Lekki; General Hospital, Apapa; Primary Healthcare Centre, Odi Olowo, Mushin and Maternal and Child Centre, Amuwo Odofin. (Punch)
