Coronavirus: Bauchi Gov Bala Tests Positive
- Tension in state over Gov’s health
- Workers get stay home order
The Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, has tested positive to the Coronavirus following the clinical test conducted on him and his aides by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
A statement by the governor’s Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media, Mukhtar Gidado, disclosed this on Tuesday in Bauchi, the state capital.
According to Gidado: ”Of the six initial tests carried out, one sample was confirmed positive of COVID-19. The positive result happened to be that of his Excellency, Senator Bala Mohammed.”
Gidado further stated that: ”At this point, it should be noted that the governor is in self-isolation as his doctors and officials from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control have taken full charge of his quarantine.”
The Media aide quoted Governor Bala as advising anyone who earlier came in contact with him to go for immediate test to avoid further spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It would be recalled that Governor Bala Mohammed had gone into self-isolation following contact with son of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Mohammed Atiku Abubakar, who tested positive to the virus and is currently being quarantined and undergoing treatment at the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Meanwhile, the development has forced the state government to order that 70 per cent of its workforce should stay home at home for now to avoid spreading the virus.
Among the category of civil servants ordered to work from home are those between levels 01 and 12. The directive was contained in a statement signed by Umar Saidu for Head of Civil Service in the State.
The statement however, directed that those on level 12 and above, including essential public servants such as health and security, should continue going to work.
The statement read; “In an effort to curtail the spread of the killer disease, His Excellency, Senator Bala Mohammed, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, has directed that all nonessential public servants on grade level 01-12 to stay and work from their home with effect from Wednesday 25th March 2020, until further notice.
“While nonessential officers from grade level 13 and above including all essential public servants such as health, security, etc should continuously come to work to sustain coordination of effective service delivery.”
It therefore urged citizens in the state to always observe necessary health and hygienic precautions in their interactions through minimal contacts amongst others.
