Covid-19 Update: Edo Govt Goes After 111 Contacts

• As Assembly Speaker Tests Positive 
• Six persons isolated already
• Dep Gov Shuaibu says no cause for alarm 

BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – The Edo State Government has embarked on a massive search for about 111 contact persons following the current self-isolation by Governor Godwin Obaseki over the coronavirus outbreak in Nigeria.

This is as the State on Wednesday recorded a high profiled political figure as a confirmed case of the rampaging virus. He is the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye, who has tested positive to Coronavirus (COVID-19), upon his return to Edo from the United Kingdom (UK) and he is the index case reported on Monday n the State.

Official reports said in tracking the 111 persons involved, the State government has gotten in touch with about 64 per cent of them with six already isolated, while samples of five of them have been taken for tests by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)

Similarly, it was gathered that upon his return to Benin, the Edo State capital, Speaker Okiye isolated himself, with his test sample returning positive. He is however reported to be in stable condition at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Esan Central Local Government Area of the state.

Accordingly, two persons that Okiye had contact with were his wife and daughter, whose samples were taken, but the results were negative.

Giving an update on the State’s Coronavirus status in a media briefing at the Government House, Benin on Wednesday, Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shuaibu, said: “Governor Obaseki, on his own, avoided meeting with everybody, upon his arrival in Benin City from Abuja and he maintained social distance, before going into self isolation.”

He disclosed that; “One hundred and eleven persons have been tracked by Edo State government. We have got in touch with 64 per cent of the 111 persons. Six of them have been isolated, while samples of five of them have been taken. Residents of Edo State should not conceal the pandemic.”

Shuaibu also said the State government had brought 40 drums of hand sanitisers, to be distributed to the LGAs, palaces and other public places free of charge.

On measures so far taken by the government, the Deputy Governor said: “We still maintain that gathering of persons above 20 is prohibited. Markets remain closed, except for those selling essential commodities such as food and medicine.

“The Edo State COVID-19 Response Committee continues to meet daily to review the situation. Hope in the face of COVID-19.”

He however called on residents of the state not to panic, declaring that Coronavirus would be a death sentence if the suspected persons refused to report for testing of their samples or self-isolate.