The Speaker of the Edo state House of Assembly, Frank Okiye, has tested positive to cooronavirus.
This was after he returned from United Kingdom. He is also the index case in the state, that was reported on Monday by the NCDC.
Since he returned to Edo, he has been in self-isolation, while his sample was sent for testing and the test came back positive. He is currently in a stable condition at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Esan Central Local Government Area of the state.
Okiye had contact with his wife and daughter, but their results birth came back negative.
Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has also gone into self-isolation, with his samples sent for testing.
Obaseki had close contact with his Bauchi state counterpart, Senator Bala Muhammed, at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the National Economic Council (NEC) meetings, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, who he also visited, and have both (Muhammed and Kyari) tested positive for the virus.
All these were made known on Wednesday by Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, while briefing reporters at the Government House, Benin, on update on the dreaded Coronavirus.
“Governor Obaseki, on his own, avoided meeting with everybody, upon his arrival in Benin City from Abuja and he maintained social distance, before going into self isolation.
“One hundred and eleven persons have been tracked by Edo State government. We have got in touch with 64 per cent of the 111 persons. Six of them have been isolated, while samples of five of them have been taken. Residents of Edo State should not conceal the pandemic.”
“The state government had brought 40 drums of hand sanitisers, to be distributed to the LGAs, palaces and other public places free of charge.
“We still maintain that gathering of persons above 20 is prohibited. Markets remain closed, except for those selling essential commodities such as food and medicine.
“The Edo State COVID-19 Response Committee continues to meet daily to review the situation. Hope in the face of COVID-19.”
“Residents of the state should not panic. Conoravirus would be a death sentence if the suspected persons refused to report for testing of their samples or self-isolate.
At the time of filing this report, Nigeria has a total of 46 confirmed cases of the virus in the country, 2 persons have been discharged with one death.