*Minister of health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire

The federal government has warned private hospitals against treating patients with the coronavirus disease.

The minister of health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire who handed down the warning at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing in Abuja yesterday said private hospitals must get an accreditation adding that any hospital that violates the order will be shut down.

“I shall use this opportunity to again strongly advise health professionals against private or secret management of people who have COVID-19 outside of accredited health facilities. We cannot afford avoidable morbidity and mortality.

“Private facilities must obtain accreditation to treat this highly infectious disease. Practitioners engaging in unauthorised treatment of COVID-19, run the risk of being shut down for decontamination,” he said.

Ehanire also said the government will push out more messages and advisories on the use of masks or improvised face coverings like handkerchiefs or scarves for the mouth and nose, to reduce risk of transmission.

He described the latest Covid-19 fatality that occurred in Lagos which claimed the life of a medical professional, as very unfortunate.

He said that this was why government had been consistent in cautioning health workers to adhere to all instructions and regulations and to always utilise personal protective equipment (PPE); while maintaining a high index of suspicion for COVID-19.

“I want to express my condolences to the family. This highlights the risk to health workers in this COVID-19 response. Patients with mild symptoms are still very highly infectious, and mild symptoms in one person could be deadly infection in another. “That is why we recommend the suspension of close contact between grandchildren and grandparents, at this time. Our valuable health workers are urged to adhere to all government instructions and regulations; always utilise personal protective equipment (PPE); maintain a high index of suspicion for COVID-19; and protect yourselves, your loved ones and your colleagues,” he said.

He also announced that the national testing capacity had been increased to 3,000 per day in 13 molecular laboratories nationwide activated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Besides, the minister said the revised case definition for testing would include all patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, fever and respiratory tract symptoms and persons with fever and respiratory tract symptoms of unknown cause.