72 Nigerians, 111 other Africans test positive in China, waiting for evacuation

Not more than Seventy-two Nigerians have tested positive for coronavirus and awaiting evacuation in Guangzhou city, China.

The results of the tests conducted on about 56 Nigerians, which were released on Tuesday, indicated that the affected individuals were asymptomatic, raising concern that they might have infected other people.

According to Punch, 16 Nigerians had earlier tested positive for the virus, taking the total number to 72. and the 65 of the contacts are being traced.

The Chinese authorities explained that 65 persons who had contact with the positive cases were being traced.

This development was revealed in a verbal statement by the Foreign Affairs Office of Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government to the Nigerian Consulate in Guangzhou dated April 22, 2020.

The statement, which was also copied to the Nigerian Embassy in China, as well as the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, indicated that 16 Nigerians had earlier been recorded positive.

The statement which was read in part, read thus: “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 56 citizens are part of the over 2,000 Nigerians from China, the United States, United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and other countries, who had indicated interest in returning to Nigeria based on the coronavirus pandemic.

It can be recalled that Federal Government had announced plans to evacuate Nigerians in China first following complaints of racism and stigmatisation against them by Chinese officials in Guangzhou.

This was inline to a viral video showing Nigerians being evicted from their hotels and apartments.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, had called on the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Zhou Pingjian, twice last week to register Nigeria’s displeasure over the incident.

Onyxnews Nigeria gathered that the acting Nigerian Consul-General, Razaq Lawal, had gone on self-isolation having meeting with the affected Nigerians during their protest against the Chinese authorities.

Lawal could not be reached for comment on Wednesday as his mobile line was unavailable.

111 African nationals in China test positive

Presently, 111 other African nationals have tested positive for COVID-19 during the ongoing tests of 4,553 Africans in Guangzhou city.

Apart from the Africans, reports said that a total of 30,768 foreigners were presently staying in the city, mainly from South Korea (4,600), Japan (2,987), the US, (2,724), Canada (1,832) and Russia (1,422).

This is apart from 50,000 others who had yet to return to Guangzhou due to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.

The number of non-Africans who tested positive for the virus could not be immediately ascertained.

However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Ferdinand Nwoye, said he was not aware of the diplomatic correspondence from the Chinese authorities.

He vowed to make some findings from the Nigerian consulate in Guangzhou.

Nwoye said, “Lawal did not respond to my calls; maybe it’s because of the time difference. I will provide an update tomorrow (today).”