A suspected coronavirus case of an infected person (name withheld);
has been tested negative in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital.
The testing of coronavirus by State’s Ministry of Health, was the
first in North-East states also affected by decade long Boko Haram
insurgency that claimed many lives and property.
This was disclosed Saturday by the health commissioner, Dr. Mohammed
Lawan Gani at a press conference held at the Emergency Operation
Centre, Damaturu.
He said that the 57-year old male patient came to the state; from
California, U.S, 17 days ago.
He said that the specimen of the suspected case was taken to Abuja,
noting that both preliminary and subsequent tests results were
negative.
Gana therefore, allayed the fears of the virus in Damaturu metropolis
and adjourning council areas of the state.
According to him; “The patient has since been discharged; as he was
certified to have tested negative for the virus.
He noted that the Yobe Ministry of Health called for a press
conference to inform the public not to panic, assuring that there is
no case of the virus in Damaturu, the state capital.
“The people should not ‘panic or fear’ of the virus that has already
been tested negative in the Damaturu metropolis.” he declared.
While speaking on preventative measures, he said: “We urge all
residents to maintain their basic personal hygiene within and in the
immediate environments.
“This will prevent people from contracting the virus through direct
contacts with persons carrying the virus in communities and other
public places.”
He added that State Government and development partners in Yobe; will
continue train and retrain health workers on COVID-19 and other
epidemic prone diseases.
“We’ll be identifying and training our contact monitors and other
preventative measures against the coronavirus that claimed over 5, 000
lives across the globe.”
