COVID -19: Fear in Eket over popular pastor’s wife infection

Fear has engulfed the oil city of Eket in Akwa Ibom state over rumours that the founder of a famous pentecostal church’s wife has been infected with coronavirus in the area.

Our correspondent gathered that the pastor’s wife returned from London where she was suspected of contracting the virus.

Sources confirmed that the pastor also owns a popular hotel in the oil city where many oil companies patronise.

However, rumours of the infection of the pastor’s wife has sent panic among residents of the area forcing them to remain indoors, especially church members who have since deserted the church premises.

Our correspondent could not confirm whether the couple have been quarantined in any of the government isolated centres.

But, Eket residents have called on the government to step in immediately to avert the virus taking its toll if the hotelier and wife are confirmed positive.

Daily Times investigation revealed that when the wife returned from London with symptoms of COVID-19, she approached Ibom Specialist Hospital for medical attention.

At the hospital, she was said to have demanded that her samples be taken, but the medical personnel in -charge turned down the request until she reportedly called the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in Ebonyi state and Governor Udom Emmanuel to intervene before her samples were taken.

Though no one knows the result of the test, it was further learnt that she returned to the oil city and organized a party attended by not less than 25 persons.