Ten Nigerians due to be evacuated from the United Kingdom have tested positive for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
According to the results of the tests released on Monday, the confirmed cases were asymptomatic, spiking fears they could have infected other persons.
The confirmed cases were among the first 40 persons tested from those who registered in the UK to be evacuated to Nigeria, with The Punch quoting an unnamed source in the Nigerian High Commission in the UK as saying that the intending returnees were being tested in a batch of 40.
At least 2,000 Nigerians in the UK, USA, UAE, Australia, and China have reportedly indicated interest to return to Nigeria.
The majority of those who indicated interest to return to Nigeria from the UK were said to be non-residents but students and businessmen who got stranded in the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had imposed two conditions for those seeking to be evacuated.
The ministry had told potential evacuees that they would have to cover the cost of their own flight and undergo a compulsory COVID-19 test, noting that no positive patient would be brought to Nigeria.
The Herald learnt that those who tested positive for the deadly virus have since commenced treatment in the UK.
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Confirming the development, spokesman for Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, Abdul-Rahman Balogun said, “Yes, I can confirm that the results of the first cluster of 40 persons revealed that between eight and 10 Nigerians tested positive for coronavirus. They have since commenced treatment in the UK.”