Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the Governor of Ondo State has cried out to complain that his state does not have enough reagents and other testing kits to use in the quest to discover who and who is COVID-19 positive in his state.
He spoke at a press briefing after a third COVID-19 case was discovered in the state on Monday at the military barracks.
He, however, assured that there was enough testing kits for the contacts the state is currently tracing and monitoring.
The first case is a military officer that just returned from Indian while the second case is a staff of the Murtala Mohammed Airport that visited the state from Lagos State.
Governor Akeredolu said the third case is a Medical Practitioner resident with the Nigerian Army Clinic at the Owena Cantonment, Akure who came in contact with the Army Officer while administering health care to him as a suspected case
Akeredolu explained that the third case was not a member of the National Youth Service Corps but an employee of the Nigerian Army Barracks who served as a medical practitioner in the same facility in the year 2017 and was retained.
Describing the third case as deplorable, most unfortunate and quite disturbing, Governor Akeredolu said conscious effort was made to monitor all the health workers in the Army clinic in order to track any possibility of primary or secondary infection.
He stated that it was the serious effort that helped us to identify the third case who developed symptoms after the index case was confirmed.
Akeredolu noted that the current case that occurred within the state has a tendency of leaning towards community transmission.
He said it was disheartening that in spite of the massive media publicity, policy and community advocacy put in place as precautionary guidelines against COVID-19, reports reaching him have indicated serious gaps in compliance by the people.
His words, “In simple terms, we are now faced with the stark reality that COVID -19 may be transferred among families, workplaces, markets, places of worship, social gatherings and others within Ondo State, anytime without restriction and notice.
“It is disturbing that our designated markets, some religious organisations and several other public places still thrive in total disregard of such directives. I have also been briefed of the pressures on our borders, occasioning infiltration by people and Vehicles from neighbouring states. The implications of this can be better imagined.
“The point must be made again that the fight against COVID – 19 is a responsibility that will demand utmost seriousness, vigilance and attention. There is the need for effective measure of containment, investigation, enforcement and control, and government will not shy away from its duty to ensure same.
“Stener measures to be put in place are imposition of curfew from 7pm to 7am everyday with effect from today 14th April, 2020 until further notice
“Arrest and detention of individuals found to have breached government’s directives on restriction of movement of persons and goods, operation of business premises and community markets, religious gatherings and public bars and other social activities within the state.
“Arrest and detention of individuals and goods being transported into Ondo State through our borders in breach of extant directive on total closure of the borders. The only exceptions allowed are for purposes of obtaining food, seeking emergency lifesaving or chronic medical attention or obtaining security pass for such journeys in accordance with our Regulations.
“There is no gainsaying that the 3rd case of Covid–19 in our state is an unfortunate experience. We must do all it takes to make it the last.
“These points need to be emphasised because a further occurrence of another case tested positive will inevitably lead to total lockdown of the state. This undoubtedly will bring further strain upon our already stressed livelihood.
“Government is fully conscious of the pains and frustrations being currently experienced, as a result of the existing restrictions and limitations, especially by those whose daily survival depends on daily wage such as menial workers, artisans and traders.
“It was to further alleviate their difficulties and pains that we have commenced our food palliative measures which are properly domiciled in the local Governments and grassroots communities.
“We have testing kits in the state. We have had enough for those contacts of which they were tested. If they were not tested the results will not be out. We do not have enough testing kits but we are in a position to test as many people as we could.”
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
