Anglican Church bans use of same cup for communion wine to contain virus
TheLagos State commissioner for health, Prof Akin Abayomi has said that the 179 Nigerians who had contact with the Italian index case were put on mandatory 14 days quarantine.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos yesterday, the commissioner said only one person, who tested positive for the virus, was sent to the Infectious Disease Centre in Yaba, along with the index case.
He said it was the 15th day (yesterday) since the index case was confirmed positive and also the 15th day since those who had contact with him were quarantined.
Abayomi said those isolated in Ogun State had been discharged and in Lagos, “we will not follow up the contacts again because none of them had developed symptoms. We are discharging all.”
On the index case, the commissioner said: “The index case is recovering very fast. He is still with us because the virus has not totally left his system. Once he stops secreting the virus, and his test returns negative, we will know he is safe enough to be integrated back into the society. If he is negative, we will conduct another test within 48 hours after and if he is still negative, we will set him free.
“We are close to discharging the index case; we want to be sure he poses no danger to the society anymore.”
Abayomi also confirmed that the second case tested negative twice
“His tests initially showed that he was positive to coronavirus twice and now, he has tested negative to the virus twice on two consecutive tests carried out. The remaining contact in Ogun and Lagos states remain symptom-free and they have exceeded 14 days surveillance, which means that we have been able to interrupt the transmission between the index case and others. The threat of the index case to Nigeria has been eliminated.
In Abuja, the minister of health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire confirmed that the second confirmed Covid-19 case in tested negative for the virus.
He said Nigeria had so far reported only two cases – one in the index case, an Italian businessman who had flown into the country and the second, one of the persons who had contact with him (index case).
“The second confirmed case, a contact of the index case is testing negative for the virus, meaning he has cleared the virus and will be allowed to go home.”
He also said index case was clinically stable and much improved.
“Steady progress till early next week will guide the medical team in discharging him. As at today (yesterday), 13th of March, Nigeria has recorded still just two confirmed cases of COVID-19,” he added.
The minister also disclosed that the federal government had so far released about N930 million to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and N71 million to the Department of Port Health to support activities against the Covid-19 virus outbreak in the country.
Meanwhile, the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, has stopped the use of one chalice for sharing wine during Holy Communion as one of the steps to stop the spread COVID-19.
The church also suspended handshakes and hugs which are hitherto used for the “exchange of peace” during the services.
The church’s general secretary, Gershinen Dajur, disclosed this in a letter addressed to all Archbishops and Bishops of the church yesterday on behalf of the church’s Primate, Most Rev Nicholas Okoh.
“His Grace, the Most Rev Nicholas D. Okoh has directed that certain steps be taken as guides against contacting and communicating the virus among our people.
“Let the church be encouraged to trust God who is well able to help us in our times of trouble (Psalms46:1). This is the time to trust and obey God than to be anxious and panic (Phil 4:6-7).
“Since this virus is communicable, the church is to prayerfully put on hold the sharing of one chalice to all during Holy Communion. Other smaller communion cups should be used for individual communication.
“Also, handshakes and hugs during the exchange of peace should be substituted with non-contagious gestures such as hand waving, mutual bowing, or making the sign of the cross, etc,” said the letter
