The Cross River State Government has debunked claims by the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital that a covid-19 case has been recorded at the hospital.
Dr Betta Edu, the Commissioner for Health debunked the internal memo signed by the Chief Medical Director of the hospital Professor Ikpeme stating that it had one positive test result.
Ikpeme had in a circular cautioned the staff of the hospital to avoid exposing themselves to the disease.
He said a patient had tested positive during random tests carried out within the hospital.
But the CMD added that the patient had been discharged after recovering from the disease.
The professor explained that UCTH Management has been in direct contact with the Director-General, NCDC and NCDC has approved the Hospital as an independent test centre.
“With recent developments, it does appear that the state may not be free of Covid-19 as generally believed. A recent rapid test carried on a patient came out positive” Prof. Ikpeme said in a circular addressed to the hospital management, staff and patients,” read the circular dated June 25, 2020.
“However, the patient had recovered and discharged from our isolation centre last week.”
“The implication of this is that, henceforth, we do not need to pass samples through the Epidemiology Unit of the State as was the case before.”
“The UCTH management had been in direct contact with the director-general of NCDC and NCDC had approved the hospital as an independent test centre.
“The implication of this is that, henceforth, we do not need to pass samples through the Epidemiology Unit of the State as was the case before.”
However, the state’s commissioner for health said that an index COVID-19 case can only be confirmed with PCR and not the antibody Rapid Diagnostic test kits which the NCDC had said has very low sensitivity and therefore should not be used for COVID 19 diagnosis as it may produce several false-positive cases.
“As a state Government, we have commenced an investigation into this case and we will get back to the public with our findings.
“All efforts to identify and isolate suspected cases will be encouraged but we denounce any attempt to label CRS COVID-19 Positive using a rapid antibody testing methodology. For now, Cross River State has no Recorded case of COVID-19!
“We use this opportunity to further call on the Federal Ministry of Health and NCDC to as a matter of urgency, support Cross River state in the fight against COVID-19.
“We urge all Cross Riverians to remain calm and not panic, but simply step up efforts in adhering to all safety procedures in the state to prevent COVID-19 outbreak in the state”, she said.
Ben Ayade, the governor of Cross River State has serially maintained that there was no covid-19 case in the state despite the death of Godwin Akwaji, the lawmaker representing Obudu constituency at the Cross River house of assembly at UCTH of COVID-19-related illness.
