NCDC now to discharge COVID-19 patient after one negative test

 

BY NICHOLAS ABE

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The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced a change in the criteria for discharging patients who have recovered from COVID-19 infection.

The infectious diseases agency said going forward, recovered patients would be discharged after they test negative once.

Currently, a COVID-19 patient is deemed to be healed and discharged after testing negative twice 24-48 hours apart.

The agency said it was adopting the new measure owing to pressure occasioned by shrinking space in isolation facilities and moreover the initial negative tests had often been followed by second negative tests.

“We’ve recently changed our discharge criteria, from 2 negative tests 24-48 hours apart, to a single negative test. It was a pragmatic decision, because of pressure on isolation facilities. Also, most of our initial negative tests have been followed by 2nd negative tests,” Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director General of NCDC was quoted as saying on the COVID-19 Presidential Task Force Twitter support handle anchored by the Presidency Office of Digital Engagement (PODE).