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BY INUSA NDAHI, MAIDUGURI
The Borno State Commissioner for Health, who is member of the State’s High Powered Response Team for the prevention and control of COVID-19, Dr. Salisu Kwayabura has said that a total of 11 cases have been identified to have been infected with the pandemic virus from the index case.
Initially as at yesterday, Wednesday 22nd April, 2020, there were 9 confirmed cases, which means, additional two new cases have been confirmed as at Today (Thursday 23rd April, 2020).
He made the disclosure during the daily media update on the virus on Thursday at the Multi- Purpose Hall, Government House, Maiduguri.
On the index case from Biu Local Government Area, whose case emanated in Gombe state, but managed to escape and found himself in Biu before he was brought into Maiduguri and gave up the ghost, six (6) suspected persons who had contact with the deceased have been traced and are currently under surveillance.
The Commissioner revealed that in Pulka where the first index case emanated (now deceased), the Team had sent its surveillance to the community where 11 samples were taken for test and confirmation, adding that the 11 samples would arrived Maiduguri today (Thursday).
He further stated that presently, the Team has received five alerts in addition to other two alerts from Dikwa who have developed similar symptoms of COVID-19.
The two alerts from Dikwa, the Commissioner said, one of them came from Lagos, while the other from Edo, in which, surveillance Team has been deployed to the area to fish out these alerts, with a view to ascertain their status.
He however appealed to the general public to continue to bear with the total lockdown, stressing that, it was not done to punish people, but to ensure spread, prevention and control of the pandemic.
While commending the general public for their strict compliance to the two weeks total lockdown, Dr. Kwayabura assured availability of mobile ambulances in each strategic points to convey any case or clients to medical facilities in the city.
On the fate of the people from Southern Borno Senatorial District where the first and second index cases came from, he said, a good Samaritan have donated an Isolation centre in Marama town of Hawul Local Government Area, which has a capacity of over 100 beds to handle any possible cases.
Likewise, on the delay for constituting a committee to investigate the Pulka first index case as directed by the Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Malam Isa Gusau said, the governor will constitute the investigative committee on Monday. End