The Cross River State Ministry of Health has confirmed a case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk, who made the confirmation while briefing journalists at the ministry’s headquarters at the state secretariat, Calabar, yesterday, said the case, which was confirmed on April 17, 2026, is the first case to be reported in the state in recent times.

According to him, the reported case of the outbreak involved a Chinese national who works with Lafarge, who flew into the country on March 17 before falling ill.

The commissioner stated that the Chinese’s condition became worse at the medical facility under his office, and had to be taken to the University Of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).

He explained that at the UCTH, samples were taken and all protocols followed. It was subsequently confirmed that he had symptoms of COVID-19.

“We are, however, happy to report that he is doing well,” the commissioner said.

Ayuk said the Ministry of Health had been repositioned by the current administration to handle and manage any situation, including diseases or epidemic outbreaks.

“I wish to assure residents of the state that we have been beefing up our preparedness capabilities since the confirmation of this case, and we will use all the resources made available by the government to respond to this case.

According to him, there had been silent infections and clear cases from time to time.

“But we are determined that for every ailment, every disease or outbreak, if it is identified here in the state, there should be no alarm.”

Additionally, the State Epidemiologist, Dr Inyang Ekpenyong, announced that in response to the case, the state’s emergency response unit had been activated.

She noted that contact tracing and line listing of persons the Chinese may have come in contact with were ongoing.

While noting that the last confirmed case of COVID-19 in Cross River was in 2022, the epidemiologist said the Chinese may have contracted the virus in Nigeria.