Cross River Confirms New COVID-19 Case, Activates Health Response
The Cross River State Government has confirmed a new case of COVID-19 and says it has activated emergency health measures to prevent any possible spread.
Health officials say the case involves a 53-year-old Chinese expatriate who entered Nigeria through Lagos on March 17, 2026, before travelling to a factory in Akamkpa Local Government Area. Symptoms were first noticed after arrival at the facility.
According to health authorities, the patient showed mild symptoms and was later moved to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, where tests confirmed the infection. The patient is now receiving treatment at an isolation centre and is said to be responding well.
The state government explains that it delayed public disclosure until confirmation was completed, to avoid panic and misinformation. It also says surveillance systems have been strengthened across health facilities.
Officials have begun contact tracing to identify and monitor people who may have been exposed. Those identified are being observed within the standard incubation period of two to 14 days.
Health experts in the state describe the case as the first confirmed COVID-19 infection in Cross River since 2022. They note that even a single case is treated seriously and can trigger an outbreak response system.
The state health ministry, working with national and international partners, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, says response teams have been deployed and monitoring is ongoing.
Authorities are advising residents to remain calm while maintaining basic preventive measures such as hand hygiene, mask use where necessary, and early reporting of symptoms like fever, cough, or sore throat.
Officials say the state is prepared to manage the situation and has strengthened its capacity for early detection and rapid response.
