No case of coronavirus in Edo, suspected case in UBTH tested negative – Edo state government
The Edo state government have come out to allay the the palpable fear of the people of the state following a suspected case of coronavirus at the medical emergency of the University of Benin Teaching hospital yesterday (5/3/2020).
The suspected case is a middle-aged man who recently returned from Italy with symptoms of fever, cough, catarrh and chest pain. The Chief Medical Director of the teaching immediately directed that the emergency unit where the patient was admitted be shut down and contacts were immediately isolated. Blood samples where taken to Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital and the result came out negative this evening.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Patrick Okundia said the only suspected case that was presented to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, (UBTH), has tested negative to the virus.
The Commissioner said, “This is to bring to the knowledge of the good people of Edo State that the suspected case of COVID-19 that was presented to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) yesterday, had his sample specimen sent to the Virology Research and Testing Centre in Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Irrua. The result of the test came out negative.
“This is to allay the fear of an outbreak of Corona Virus Infection in Edo State. Please note that there is no case of Corona Virus in Edo State.”
Meanwhile, the rumoured case of coronavirus in the Benin metropolis has prompted many banks, government parastatals to put clean water and bowl at the entrance of their offices so as to encourage handwashing.
READ ALSO: Dangote donates N200million for fight against coronavirus
So far, the Nigerian government has made tremendous efforts to ensure coronavirus do not spread to other states after it was confirmed in Lagos about a week ago. The index case, an Italian man has been reported to by “responding to treatment”.
