66 others test positive in Abia on Sunday
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has tested positive for
the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and has consequently
handed over the reins of the state to the deputy governor, Ude Oko
Chukwu, who would act as governor until Mr Ikpeazu is nursed back
to good health.
This comes as Abia State on Sunday recorded its highest number
of people who tested positive for the COVID-19 pandemic and the
highest in the country with 67 results returning positive.
A release by the commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi-
Kalu, recalled that on Saturday, May 30th, Governor Ikpeazu’s
sample was collected for COVID-19 test and on Tuesday, June 2nd,
the result of test returned negative.
However, on Thursday, June 4th, according to the release, the
governor submitted another sample at the Nigeria Centre for Disease
Control (NCDC) laboratory for confirmation and this time around the
result returned positive.
‘As a result, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has gone into isolation,
as required by relevant NCDC protocols, and he is being managed by
a competent team of medical practitioners with a view to nursing
him back to good health.
‘Consequent on the above, the Governor has directed his deputy,
Ude Oko Chukwu, to act on his behalf pending his full resumption of
duties.’
The release urged all Abians to take the fight against COVID-19
serious, stressing that the disease is real but not a death
sentence.
Recall that the state commissioner for Environment, Dr Solomon
Ogunji, died on May 23rd of what the state government said was as a
result of complications arising from high blood pressure.
Nevertheless, Governor Ikpeazu had to later direct all
commissioners, members of the state Inter-Ministerial Committee on
COVID-19 who might have had come into contact with the late
commissioner to immediately undergo Coronavirus test and isolate
themselves thereafter for 14 days pending the outcome of the tests,
a move that suggested the commissioner might have died as a result
of the virus.
Speaking from isolation, Governor Ikpeazu said as the governor
of the state, he has the responsibility to update Abians about his
health status.
He restated his stance that testing positive to the virus was
not a death sentence and appealed to the people not to panic but
continue to take issues surrounding the pandemic seriously and take
all necessary precautions in line with NCDC protocols.
66 others test positive in Abia on Sunday
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has tested positive for
the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and has consequently
handed over the reins of the state to the deputy governor, Ude Oko
Chukwu, who would act as governor until Mr Ikpeazu is nursed back
to good health.
This comes as Abia State on Sunday recorded its highest number
of people who tested positive for the COVID-19 pandemic and the
highest in the country with 67 results returning positive.
A release by the commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi-
Kalu, recalled that on Saturday, May 30th, Governor Ikpeazu’s
sample was collected for COVID-19 test and on Tuesday, June 2nd,
the result of test returned negative.
However, on Thursday, June 4th, according to the release, the
governor submitted another sample at the Nigeria Centre for Disease
Control (NCDC) laboratory for confirmation and this time around the
result returned positive.
‘As a result, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has gone into isolation,
as required by relevant NCDC protocols, and he is being managed by
a competent team of medical practitioners with a view to nursing
him back to good health.
‘Consequent on the above, the Governor has directed his deputy,
Ude Oko Chukwu, to act on his behalf pending his full resumption of
duties.’
The release urged all Abians to take the fight against COVID-19
serious, stressing that the disease is real but not a death
sentence.
Recall that the state commissioner for Environment, Dr Solomon
Ogunji, died on May 23rd of what the state government said was as a
result of complications arising from high blood pressure.
Nevertheless, Governor Ikpeazu had to later direct all
commissioners, members of the state Inter-Ministerial Committee on
COVID-19 who might have had come into contact with the late
commissioner to immediately undergo Coronavirus test and isolate
themselves thereafter for 14 days pending the outcome of the tests,
a move that suggested the commissioner might have died as a result
of the virus.
Speaking from isolation, Governor Ikpeazu said as the governor
of the state, he has the responsibility to update Abians about his
health status.
He restated his stance that testing positive to the virus was
not a death sentence and appealed to the people not to panic but
continue to take issues surrounding the pandemic seriously and take
all necessary precautions in line with NCDC protocols.