Kano in great danger over coronavirus, warns health commissioner
The Kano state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ibrahim Tsanyawa, has warned that the threat of the novel coronavirus in the commercial city of Kano is great and has put them in a challenging situation.
Dr. Tsanyawa, who revealed this at a press conference on COVID-19 held in Kano on Wednesday, said it is clear that the virus is affecting many sectors regardless of economic or public status.
He said as the pandemic continues to take a heavy toll on families, the danger of the spread of the disease has put the government in a challenging situation, which necessitates firming up measures against the importation and spread of the dreaded disease.
According to him, despite the threat, the state government is aggressively maintaining and sustaining its COVID-19-free status.
He added that even though the state is receiving numerous rumoured cases daily, it had screened several suspected cases by its rapid response teams across all the 44 local government areas.
The commissioner also disclosed that the ministry had so far collected the samples of 46 suspected cases out if which 42 have turned negative, while awaiting the results of four samples.
He also disclosed that the state government in collaboration with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is set to establish another isolation center outside Kano city, adding that “there is the arrangement to transport any person who has a problem from anywhere to the isolation centres in the state.
READ ALSO: COVID-19: 67 Nigerian returnees from Ivory Coast arrive Seme border
“Considering the viciousness of this pandemic as the numbers are ticking high on daily basis across the globe, this has startled us to expand our preparedness and measures as well as response in a more focused and proactive way,” he said.
He however, revealed that the COVID-19 testing centre would soon be established in the state, disclosing that the team from the National Center for the Control of Diseases (NCDC) is about to arrive Kano for assessment and possibly site the center at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.
The commissioner also revealed that about 6, 000 retired health workers have applied to offer volunteer service in the fight against the coronavirus as requested by the Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
