COVID-19: We’re Experiencing Dearth of Testing Kits – Bauchi Government Laments
BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – Bauchi State Government on Saturday declared that it is experiencing dearth of testing kits for the COVID-19 deadly disease, stressing that as it is now, the State has to rely on taking samples to Abuja by road for testing which is delaying results.
This is even as the state also said that it has not recorded any new case of infection of the Coronavirus in the last 48 hours.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Aliyu Maigoro Mohammed, who stated these while giving situation update of the COVID-19, explained that aside of the two confirmed cases of COVID-19, the State is doing everything possible to ensure that there is no fresh case.
Mohammed said the State Taskforce on COVID-19 may have to liaise with the Nigerian Air Force to help us in the area of transportation.”
The commissioner also denied trending rumours that one of the confirmed cases has left the isolation and treatment centre at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, (ATBU), Bauchi.
He also said that so far, the two confirmed cases are doing well from the treatment they are receiving, adding that in a matter of days, the sample of the first confirmed case will be taken for further test having been quarantined for the required days.
Mohammed also said; “The samples of all those on our contact list have been traced and taken for test. Apart from the two confirmed cases, all others have tested negative. We are optimistic that the remaining samples too will be negative.”
The Commissioner appealed to the journalists to always verify their information before going to press in order not to mislead the public.
In his remarks, the Acting Chief Medical Director (CMD), of ATBUTH, Dr Abubakar Saidu Kadas confirmed that the index case is still with his hospital and receiving adequate treatment and assured that the facility is ready to handle the cases that may be referred to them.
