By Ayomide Otitoju
A fresh case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Cross River State, prompting renewed surveillance and contact tracing efforts by the state government.
The Cross River State Ministry of Health has begun profiling individuals who may have come into contact with a Chinese national admitted after testing positive for the virus. The state Commissioner for Health, Henry Ayuk, disclosed this during a briefing in Calabar, describing the development as the state’s most significant COVID-19 case resurgence since 2022.
Ayuk said the patient, who arrived in Nigeria on March 17, 2026, is believed to have contracted the virus locally after the 14-day incubation period elapsed, with symptoms reportedly emerging on April 10.
He assured residents that the situation is under control, urging calm while advising continued vigilance. According to him, health authorities have deployed personnel across communities in Akamkpa Local Government Area, where the patient reportedly resides and works, to prevent further spread.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) coordinator in Cross River, World Health Organization representative Yewande Olatunde, urged Nigerians to remain health-conscious, noting that COVID-19 has not been fully eradicated globally and continues to evolve into new variants.
COVID-19, first detected in China in late 2019, triggered a global pandemic that led to widespread lockdowns and severe economic disruption. In Nigeria, the virus recorded about 3,000 deaths, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
Although vaccines and public health measures have significantly reduced its impact, health authorities continue to emphasise adherence to safety protocols and early reporting of symptoms.
