COVID-19: FG tells Nigerians to stop stockpiling chloroquine

The federal government has raised alarm over Nigerians stockpiling chloroquine in large quantities for the treatment of treat the novel coronavirus.

The presidential task force on COVID-19 warned on Thursday, May 21, said chloroquine had not been approved for COVID-19 treatment.

The chairman of the task force, Boss Mustapha, disclosed that the government has obtained reports about Nigerians buying hydroxychloroquine in large quantities.

He warned against self-medication, noting that people who self-medicate stand the risk of self-harm.

He advised anyone suspected COVID-19 case to self-isolate in an approved facility.

Meanwhile, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has dismissed the rumour that coronavirus patients across the country play, dance and have fun on social media while in isolation centres.

Speaking on Thursday, May 21, Ihekweazu said that one fact Nigerians must understand is that many asymptomatic patients are put in isolation centres not because they are very sick but just so that the transmission of the disease can be curbed, Channels TV reports.

Thus, the NCDC boss explained that it is tough for these persons to be quarantined without anything in place to help them while away the time.

Ihekweazu decried the fact that people are using few viral online videos to conclude that it is now a trend throughout Nigeria for patients to play at treatment centres.

In another report, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Thursday night announced 339 new cases of Covid-19 in eighteen states — arguably the highest in the last one week.

Lagos, the epicentre of the disease, unsurprisingly led the pack with whopping 139 cases followed by Kano and Oyo states sitting behind with 28 cases each. Edo followed on the line with 25 cases, followed by Katsina (22), Jigawa (14).

Yobe and Plateau shared 13 cases each, FCT (11), Gombe (8), Ogun (5). Bauchi and Nasarawa shared four cases each.