Coronavirus: Boy,17, presents self for quarantine at Benue hospital

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

A 17 year old boy, (name withheld) has raised fears amongst residents in Benue as he presented himself at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi, seeking to be quarantined after he claimed to have noticed symptoms of the global disease called coronavirus on his body.
It should be noted that Benue State government had earlier designated the University Teaching Hospital Makurdi as treatment center for any possible outbreak of the disease.
Our correspondent gathered that the young man had on Saturday at about 11am, allegedly gone to the teaching hospital and informed the chief medical director that he is suspecting himself to have contracted the coronavirus and should be quarantined having noticed symptoms of the disease on his body.
Confirming the development, the Chief Medical Director of the University Hospital, Prof. Terlumun Swende, said that the young man who presented himself to be quarantined as a result of the coronavirus has zero chance of contracting the virus and could not be quarantined as requested.
Prof. Swende in a statement personally signed by him and made available to newsmen in Makurdi by the Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Mr. Cephas Hough explained that, upon examination of the boy by team of doctors from the hospital, it was discovered that he had no symptoms of COVID-19.
According to him, further interaction with the patient revealed that, he had not travelled out of Benue State for several years, and has almost zero percent chances of contacting the virus.
Parts of the statement read: “It has become imperative for us as an institution to put Benue, and indeed the Nigerian public in proper perspective on an alleged case of COVID-19 at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.
“Ealier today(Saturday), a young man of about 17 years, who had cold and cough yesterday presented himself at our facility and informed the medical personnel on duty that he suspects that he had COVID-19. However, upon examination, our team of doctors discovered that he had no symptoms of COVID-19 case.
“Interaction with the patient revealed that he has not travelled out of Benue State for several years, and has almost zero percent chances of contacting the virus.
It was discovered that he became unnecessarily agitated due to wrong interpretation of COVID-19 symptoms he had read and heard from the social media.”
Prof Swende maintained that the young man was promptly treated and allowed to go home.
He appealed to social media bloggers and other users to be cautious of what they post on COVID-19, to avoid creating unnecessary panic and assured that there’s no suspected case of COVID 19 at BSUTH, Makurdi at the moment.