Chikwe Iheakweazu, the Director-General of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control NCDC, has said that fruits have not been identified as a mode of transmission for the novel Coronavirus.

Ihekweazu said this while responding to a question posed to him by a reporter at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja today May 19.

A reporter had asked him if the virus can be transmitted to persons who consume fruits purchased from the market that might have been touched by an infected person. The reporter said people have been advised to wash their hands with soap and water and not edibles like fruits, to get rid of the virus.

In his response, the NCDC boss said

”Handwashing is good whether you are eating fruits or not.

Fruits have not been identified as specific mode of transmission of this virus so we advise you continue treating your fruits as carefully as you have always treated them.” he said