Benue records second COVID-19 case
Benue state government has confirmed the second case of COVID -19 in the state.
Governor Samuel Ortom, who confirmed the incident while speaking to newsmen at Government House, Makurdi, on Tuesday, disclosed that the carrier, Edward Manger, is the second victim to contact the virus in the state.
He also stated that the partial lockdown in the state is still in force, adding that the ban on public gatherings still subsist even as the dusk to dawn curfew is still in force.
The governor also noted that following the new case, the state government would review the COVID-19 situation in the state before the week runs out and decide on the next line of action.
On the second case, Ortom explained that Manger, an officer of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and resident in Kano state has since been confirmed positive by the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC)
According Governor Ortom, the victim arrived the state towards the end of April and his blood sample were taken as soon as he began to manifest symptoms of the virus.
He noted that the state got the confirmation from the NCDC on Monday night, just as the victim has been taken into isolation.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce today again, another COVID-19 case in Benue state.
“This young man came to Benue state towards the end of April and our action committee got wind of where he came from and swooped into action, and it has been discovered just yesterday that he was positive after his sample was earlier taken to Abuja, and the NCDC confirmed him positive,” Ortom said.
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According to the governor, the patient is cooperating with the state government and has been isolated, just as contact has been made with his immediate family.
He explained that “when we mention names, we are not doing so to ridicule the person; we have continually said there is no reason to stigmatise anyone with COVID-19.
“When we mention people’s names it’s for the interest of the society, so that anybody who has made contact with him towards the end of April up to yesterday (Monday), it will be in your own interest to come forward.”
It would be recalled that the index case was recorded in the state about a month ago when Susan Okpe arrived the state from the United Kingdom.
