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The Federal Government has said it is considering treating coronavirus patients at home due to states running out of bed spaces to attend to infected persons.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, during the Presidential Task Force PTF on COVID-19 briefing on Thursday, said there was bed spaces shortage especially in Lagos and partly in Abuja and Kano where the cases were high.
Ihekweazu stated: “Concerning the availability of bed spaces for the management of patients, there is no doubt that we are struggling in certain places especially in Lagos State, and to an extent Kano and Abuja. But the biggest challenge right now is in Lagos where bed spaces are really tight.
“Across the country we have about 3,500 bed spaces identified as available for coronavirus but in Lagos we are already struggling.
“So, we are going to work with them to keep trying to make more spaces available.
“But ultimately, we might have to change that strategy a little bit and start considering homecare in certain circumstances where – firstly you are able to provide a room where a patient can be managed sufficiently and secondly, we are able to support the care by enabling healthcare workers to come there. We will always be honest to Nigerians.
“We are struggling at the moment and we might have to adapt our strategies because of the realities we face.
“Over the next few days and weeks, and as we do that, we will make that clear to Nigerians.
“Our policy hasn’t changed but the pressure is there and that might have to change in the next few days.”
Meridian Spy reported on Thursday night, as at 11:50pm 30th April- 1932 confirmed cases of #COVID19 in Nigeria Discharged: 319 Deaths: 58, according to NCDC.
“As at April 30 2020, 35 states and the FCT have recorded at least one confirmed case of #COVID19 71% of all cases are from three states.”
Kogi remains the only state yet to record any case of the virus.
