Ministry of Health in Lebanon has announced that 25 persons aboard a flight that arrived the country from Kano State on Wednesday have tested positive for COVID-19.
In April, the government of Lebanon asked Middle East Airlines to evacuate its citizens from foreign countries which included Nigeria.
In line with the directive, an aircraft with flight number ME570 took off from Kano to Beirut, Lebanon on May 5, according to a flight schedule provided by Middle East Airlines.
But a statement issued on Wednesday by Lebanon Ministry of Health confirmed that 25 of the passengers on that flight tested positive for coronavirus.
It said the affected passengers will be taken to hospital for treatment, while others who tested negative would be quarantined.
The Health Ministry said if any of the passengers who tested negative exhibits symptoms of COVID-19, the person will be sent to hospital for re-examination.
According to the ministry, as of 11:30am on Thursday, Lebanon’s total number of COVID-19 patients is 784, 220 recoveries and 25 deaths.
In other news, Aminu Masari, governor of Katsina, has said residents of the state don’t see coronavirus as a problem but banditry.
The Governor said this on Thursday when he received Leo Irabor, chief of defence training and operations, and other senior officers from the defence headquarters, Abuja,
Masari said banditry in the state has become overwhelming as suspected bandits have killed more than 50 people in two weeks, while the residents continue to live in fear.
The Governor expressed;
We sincerely appreciate the efforts of the security agencies in the fight against banditry, but we must also state that the situation has become so overwhelming. We are running out of words to convince our people that we are on top of the situation.
They are, by the days, loosing confidence in us as their leaders, saddled with the responsibility of securing their lives and properties.
He stated that;
I am so saddened with the situation we are in now, because to most of our people in the troubled areas, COVID-19 is not even an issue.
It may have taken over the world and the news about it, but not here. Attacks by armed bandits have have become a daily affair. At our own end and within the resources available, we have provided support to the security agencies.
According to him, the state has brokered peace through an Amnesty and reconciliatory drive and some of the bandits repented.
The Governor however noted that the state have been overpowered by the unrepentant ones who are more sophisticated.
