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72 Nigerians awaiting evacuation from China test positive for COVID-19
Seventy-two Nigerians who were waiting to be evacuated in Guangzhou city, Guangdong Province of China have tested positive for COVID-19.
56 Nigerians, whose test results were released on Tuesday were asymptomatic, leading to fears that they might have infected other people.
According to reports, 16 other Nigerians had tested positive before the release of the result of the 56 on Tuesday, bringing the number to 72.
According to Chinese authorities, 65 persons who had contact with the positive cases were being traced.
The Foreign Affairs Office of Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government disclosed this in a note verbale (diplomatic correspondence) to the Nigerian Consulate in Guangzhou dated April 22, 2020.
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The note, according to reports, was also copied to the Nigerian Embassy in China, as well as the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria.
The correspondence, written in Mandarin but translated to English, read in part: “According to the data by the Guangzhou Municipal Health Commission on April 21, there are currently 16 confirmed cases and 56 positive test cases among Nigerian citizens in Guangzhou, as well as 65 cases of contact.
“We invite the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Guangzhou to supervise Nigerian citizens in Guangzhou so they can abide by the law of the People’s Republic of China on the prevention and control of infectious diseases.”
“Asian citizens understand Guangzhou’s epidemic prevention and control; work and cooperate with China’s political support.”
The note verbal was written in Mandarin and translated into English using Google Translate.
The 56 Nigerians, whose test results came out on Tuesday, are part of the over 2000 Nigerians in Diaspora who had indicated their interest in returning home.
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