Tina Amanda
Rivers state government says there is currently no confirmed case of COVID 19 in the state.
The commissioner for health, Professor Princewill Chike stated this on Sunday during the official visit of the Director-General of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu to Port Harcourt.
Chike confirmed that the 62-year-old index case who was earlier announced by NCDC as positive for COVID-19 on April 7, 2020 has tested negative after receiving treatment at the treatment center for two weeks and was discharged on the 17 April 2020 to reunite with his family.
He further explained that the ministry of health and its response team followed 121 persons of interest through the mandatory self isolation and quarantine, “Except for two contacts who will exit by Monday, 20 April , all other contacts have exited our 14 day mandatory surveillance without significant events”.
Chike also noted that the ministry’s strategy is focused strongly on early detection, isolation and treatment, adding that the efforts are supported by risk communication, community engagement and stockpilling/ pre-positioning of commodities amongst others.
Speaking earlier, the Director-General of Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu lauded Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for his support and quick concern in aiding the ministry on the quick response in the containment of the pandemic in the state.
Dr Ihekweazu who acknowledged the effort of the state’s commissioner and his health personnel also noted that the purpose for his visit to Rivers State is to assure the support of NCDC and their preparedness in containing further spread of COVID 19 in the state.
The director general charged residence of the state to adhere strictly to the lockdown approach in the state,”The purpose of the lockdown is to develop public health response” he said.
Other engagements of the director general was his visit to Rivers State Governor and the inspection of the 2nd holding and treatment center at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium Elekahia.
