68-year-old covid-19 patient dies in Akwa Ibom

The Akwa Ibom State government has said one of its covid-19 patient, a 68-year-old woman has died, bringing the deaths from COVID-19 to two in the State.

This was disclosed Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, the Secretary to the State Government and Chairman Covid-19 Management Committee in a press briefing on Thursday.

Ekuwem said the deceased was transferred to the centre, totally unconscious and with multiple serious long outstanding ill-health.

He appealed to doctors to seek help from their colleagues when faced with illness beyond their experience and their facility.

According to him, “The patient we lost was a 68 year old woman who was transferred to the centre, totally unconscious, with multiple serious long outstanding ill health.

“And I want to use this opportunity to appeal to doctors please, whether it is Covid-19 or not, once the illness is beyond what your experience and facility can carry, seek the help of your colleagues.

“We would not accept cases of dumping any longer! A situation where you bring a patient with total unconsciousness, and few hours later, the person would just give up the ghost, we wont accept that any longer!”

He said the State had also recorded three new cases, thereby making the State to have six active cases.

He explained that the three new cases recorded were as a result of the ongoing contact tracing exercise in the State.

“On the last laboratory test we conducted on 44 suspected cases, three persons were confirmed positive, while we lost one.” He said.

He stressed the determination of the State government to continue to provide excellent medical care, while also encouraging Akwa Ibom people to continue to follow all necessary preventative measures.

The Governor used the occasion to reiterate that ban on interstate transport services had not been lifted, warning that anyone caught, would be detained for 14 days.

“No passenger movement. No motor park should load or offload, else we would keep you for 14 days. Except those on essential services such as medicals, food stuff and media,” he said.