Delta allays fears of coronavirus outbreak

Delta state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye, has said that the state government has put all modalities in place to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) to the state.

Ononye stated this on Monday in Asaba, at a media parley attended by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Chiedu Ebie.

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According to Ononye, the rapid response team, which is an emergency committee set up by the state government is on top of the issue.

He revealed that the state government would not stop any form of social gathering in the state, but advised that all such gathering must conform to certain guidelines.

The commissioner said that the state government is working with the federal government, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and other stakeholders to contain the spread of the disease.

Delta state Incident Manager, Emergency Operation Committee for COVID-19, Dr. Ann Ojimba, said the isolation centre of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba has the state of the art facility, adding that another structure was been constructed as a holding centre at the medical facility.

According to her, all the 11 medical facilities in the state have a holding centre and as such there is no panic from citizens.

“The state public health centres are on red alert; we are trying to do what we call active surveillance and intensive risk communication to mitigate the spread of the disease.

“We have to develop a new culture and new habits of not touching our face, no more handshaking, but with the elbow,” she added.

Also, the Lead for the NCDC in the state, Dr, Belu Abaye, said that the state government has switched from watch mode to alert mode and has sustained the alert mode to ensure that the disease is contained in the case of any outbreak.

He noted that there is no reported incidence of coronavirus in the state and cautioned against rumours, but urged the media to send out the right information to the general public as there was no cause for alarm.

Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, reiterated the state government’s commitment to containing any outbreak as all the emergency responses have been activated and urged the people of the state not to panic.

“The governor is on top of the issue and I want to appeal to all Deltans and Nigerians to take necessary steps to ensure improved hygiene,” Ebie advised.

The Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, said that the state government is providing all the necessary support, adding however, that “in case it comes, the state medical team is on red alert to tackle the incidence.

“We advocate regular washing of hands which is cheaper to adopt in other to check the spread of the disease.”