Niger to establish a molecular laboratory, testing centre for COVID-19
The Niger state government has extended the lockdown by two weeks just as it said that plans are at an advanced stage to establish a molecular laboratory and a testing centre.
The facility, the state government sai will be located at the General Hospital, Minna, to increase testing capacity and reduce turnaround time for the release of COVID-19 results.
Governor Abubakar Sani- Bello disclosed this at the Government House, Minna, when he addressed the weekly meeting of members of the state task force on COVID- 19.
He revealed that the state had trained 457 health workers and recruited 20 advhoc staff that will man the laboratory.
According to him, the state government has strengthened its surveillance system to detect any case of coronavirus disease as well as investigate and monitor any outbreak, adding that drugs, medical supplies and personal protection equipment have been prepositioned at the Isolation centers.
Governor Sani- Bello however, expressed concern that despite all the measures put in place by government to curtail community transmission, people still flagrantly breach the COVID-19 order of social distancing at public places and wearing of facevmasks.
“It is regrettable that closure of inter-state borders has not been very effective while commercial motorcyclists and other commercial drivers are seen flouting government orders without much ado,” he said.
The governor in view of the prevailing circumstances, consequently, announced a total ban on the operations of commercial motorcycles for the next two weeks while the status quo remains on all other measures put in place in the last two weeks.
While reiterating government’s commitment to the safety of its health personnel and indeed, the state COVID-19 task force members, Governor Sani- Bello assured that government will deal decisively with any attack on its frontline workers.
The governor urged the general public to be more vigilant, adhere strictly to personal hygiene, observe social distancing at public places, wear face masks and seek medical attention in the event of symptoms such as fever, cough and catarrh.
“Let me also call on individuals with travel history from states with cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to ensure they self-isolate and promptly report to the nearest health facility,” he advised.
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Earlier, the Vice Chairman of the state task force on COVID-19 and Commissioner for Health, Dr. Muhammad Makunsidi disclosed that the state received a total of 252 signals of suspected COVID-19 cases, investigated 235 and collected over 202 samples for testing.
According to him, 10 of the samples were returned positive, while two positive persons have recovered and discharged.
He said 125 persons are confirmed negative, 67 results are still been awaited, just as 95 people are in quarantine facilities across the state, while 156 people who have completed their two- week mandatory quarantine have been allowed to go home.
Dr. Makunsidi also disclosed that the state received a total of 41 returnee ‘almajiris’, while 22 have been reunited with their families, adding that the state is also making arrangements to repatriate ‘almajiris’ to their various states of origin.
