COVID-19: Self isolation no longer necessary for inbound passengers – NCDC

Self-isolation is no longer a requirement for fully vaccinated inbound passengers, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said.

Director-General of the agency, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, stated this Monday in Abuja during the ministerial briefing on COVID-19 organised by the Federal Ministry of Health.

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Represented by the Director of Disease Surveillance Department of the agency, Elsie Ilori, he said however, there must be a COVID-19 PCR test done on day two of arrival.

He said a seven-day self-isolation is mandatory for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals in addition to COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests on days two and seven after arrival.

While saying that revised travel restrictions were released and took effect on October 25, he said key changes to the protocols include the removal of travellers from Brazil, Turkey, and South Africa from the list of restricted countries.

“In addition, key highlights are that: a negative COVID-19 PCR test results should not be conducted more than 72 hours before boarding flights for travel.

“Additionally, people arriving on official/business trips less than seven days must be fully vaccinated, test negative 72 hours before boarding and conduct a PCR test within day two of arrival,” he added.

He said the agency was prepared for diseases such as Lassa fever and meningitis and would continue to respond to cholera.

Prof Mohammed Nasir Sambo, Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), said the agency is increasing health insurance coverage for more Nigerians by the day, including initiating initiatives for the informal sector and digitalising all its operations.

Dr Saidu Ahmed Dumbulwa, the coordinator of the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance system (NEMSAS) of the Federal Ministry of Health, said the programme was geared towards ensuring that emergency medical care is available when and where it is required irrespective of ability to pay.

He said the programme would in the next couple of days sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), the NHIS and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

The Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA ), Dr Faisal Shuaib, said as of Monday, 5,770,899 eligible Nigerians have been vaccinated with the first dose of the vaccine out of which 3,146,885 have received the second jab.

He said the federal government had procured 30 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines using domestic resources.