Covid-19: Corps members test positive in Abia

By kamila bello

The Commissioner for Health in Abia State, Dr Joe Osuji says 17 members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC currently at the orientation camp at Umunna, Bende council area, have tested positive for COVID-19.

 Osuji, who stated this in an interview with journalists, explained that the corps members underwent compulsory testing on arrival at the orientation camp.

He said that seven of those who tested positive have been treated and discharged, two on self-isolation while five are at the state isolation centre, Umuahia.

The commissioner complained that people are no longer observing the COVID-19 protocol in wearing face masks, while those who wear masks do wear it halfway.

He warned that the pandemic was not yet over as the virus was still ravaging many countries across the world. 

The Commissioner commend the government for easing the difficulty in transporting samples of the COVID-19 test.

Osuji also noted that within the period of time the state set up a test centre, about 10,864 samples were collected and 947 tested positive.

He said that Abia has the highest sample testing centres in the South East and South-south  zones.

The Commissioner further stated that 925 persons have been treated and discharged, 11 patients on self-isolation under close monitoring while 7 are currently at the treatment centres. 

“In the month of July till date, testing is still ongoing in the entire 17 LGAs,”

“If somebody tests positive, we immediately begin contact tracing from family to where he or she works, that is how we have been able to contain the virus. As I speak we have almost flattened the curve, all these were made possible through the governor’s efforts,” Osuji stated.

Confidence Okwuchi