COVID-19: Ishaku worried over outbreak despite preventive steps

Taraba state Governor, Darius Ishaku, has said that the six COVID-19 cases recorded in the state and also reported by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) were travellers already intercepted and quarantined by the state’s COVID-19 committee in the state.

Governor Ishaku made the disclosure during a statewide broadcast to the people of the state on Monday at Government House, Jalingo.

He said the COVID-19 committee were inaugurated by his administration to contain the spread of the dreaded coronavirus in the state.

According to him, the six persons confirmed positive by NCDC from the state were already quarantined at the NYSC Isolation Center in Sibre with samples already sent for testing.

Baffled by the news aired on Monday by the NCDC, Governor Ishaku said: “We all woke up this morning to the shocking news of six confirmed cases of COVID-19 by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

“Samples taken from persons already quarantined by the state committee on COVID- 19 who are presently at the NYSC Isolation Center, Sibre.

“It is quite unfortunate that the reported outbreak came about despite the robust proactive steps taken by my administration to prevent the virus from entering our dear state.

“You will recall that immediately, the index case was identified in the country, we took a number of preventive steps such as the closure of our land borders with neighbouring states as well as the international boundary with the Republic of Cameroon.

“We also closed temporarily places of worship, schools, markets and other public places that attract large crowds.

He emphasised that the persons were among 130 inter-state travelers from Bauchi, Kano, Jigawa, Borno, Ogun and Lagos states intercepted at the state’s borders.

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“You will recall that the committee had earlier intercepted on two occasions 65 and 59 persons from Ogun state en route to Adamawa state and were allowed to proceed amid tight security,” he said.

While lauding the efforts of the committee for displaying proactive steps which according to him, led to the identification and isolation of the reported cases, Gov. Ishaku urged the people not to panic, assuring that the state government is on top of the situation.

He restated that additional manpower and resources have been mobilized and deployed to trace contacts of all those that have tested positive to the coronavirus.

Gov. Ishaku however, urged the people of the state to strictly adhere to the preventive measures approved by the World Health Organisation, endorsed by NCDC and adopted by the state government, such as regular washing of hands, use of sanitizers, social distancing and avoidance of handshakes.