Abia covid -19 update : Govt shuts down private clinic where index case was first treated * Doctors, staff quarantined * Begins mass contact tracing * ICU, emergency unit of FMC shut down *Personnel in contact with index cases on self isolation

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Abia covid -19 update : Govt shuts down private clinic where index case was first treated

* Doctors, staff quarantined

* Begins mass contact tracing

* ICU, emergency unit of FMC shut down

*Personnel in contact with index cases on self isolation

By Steve Oko

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has announced that the private clinic where one of the covid -19 index cases was being treated before his referral to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia has been shut down.

Ikpeazu who made the disclosure during a press briefing Tuesday in Umuahia, also said the entire staff of the clinic including medical personnel that handled the patient had also been quarantined pending the outcome of the results of their blood samples which had been sent for covid -19 test.

The governor who said disinfection of the clinic had already commenced, however, refused to disclose the identity of the said hospital but only said while responding to a question by our correspondent that the hospital was located in Umuahia.

Ikpeazu who said that the two index cases were currently at the covid -19 isolation facility at the FMC Umuahia further said that mass contact tracing of those who came in contact with them had begun.

The governor who also refused to disclose the identities of the two index cases simply said one of them hailed from Ukwa West while the other came from Umuahia North.

He said both of them, a male and female were in their 70s, adding that according to their travel history they had not travelled out of the state in the recent times.

The development, according to him, had heightened concern that it might be a case of community transmission.

Recall that both patients had been on addmision at the FMC where they were being managed for a terminal illness until Monday when their blood samples tested positive to covid -19.

According to the governor, the index cases have underlying medical conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and heart failure.

He however hoped they would recover quickly as full treatment for covid -19 had commenced for them.

Ikpeazu, therefore, warned residents of the state to be more precautious and strictly adhere to all the necessary protocols including social distancing and personal hygiene, saying covid -19 is real.

“It’s now clear to all that covid -19 is real. So everybody must be careful “, Ikpeazu advised.

On steps being taken by the state government to stem the spread of the deadly pandemic in the state, Ikpeazu said the ban on public gatherings was still in place.

He warned residents against flouting the directives, saying that mobile courts have already been set up in Aba and Umuahia to try and punish offenders.

He said anybody who had cause to step out of the house must wear nose mask or be arrested and prosecuted.

Ikpeazu said that the state had also amassed enough Personal Protective Equipment, PPE, for distribution to all medical personnel at the front line.

He said more ventilators would also be sent to FMC to manage the patients.

The governor also said handsome allowance had been approved for all the medical personnel at the front line as incentive for the risk they take.

Ikpeazu ordered security agencies to ensure all borders of the state were firmly locked down.

He warned that anybody caught compromising the directives or safety measures put in place by government against the pandemic would be treated as a saboteur and dealt with accordingly.

Ikpeazu also frowned at extra judicial killings in the state by security operatives since the lockdown began, saying that his government will not tolerate unjustifiable waste of lives.

He, however advised residents against flouting the coronavirus directives as well as any attempt to disarm a security agent, saying such adventure has severe consequences.

Later in an interview, Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu, said the Intensive Care Unit, accident and emergency unit and the ward where one of the victims was receiving treatment at the FMC had also been shut down.

He also said all medical personnel who came in contact with them had preceded on self isolation .

On the Resident Officer that slumped and died at FMC on Monday, the Commissioner said it was unlikely the development had any connection with covid -19, adding that the said doctor was less than one week old in the hospital before the tragedy.

He, therefore, urged residents not to panic but endeavour to observe the necessary protocols, expressing optimistim that the pandemic would soon be history.

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Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria.