By Muhammad Nasir Bashir
The Jigawa Government on Friday said that a COVID-19 case rumoured to have been confirmed by the state actually belonged to Kano State.
Dr Abba Zakari, the Chairman of the Task Force on the COVID-19, made the clarification at a press conference in Dutse.
Zakari said that the speculated case was recorded in Kano State.
“In spite of the fact that the patient is an indigene of Jigawa, his sample was taken in Kano; the sample was among the 21 cases confirmed positive by Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in Kano.
“Some days ago, two persons returning from the South-West were intercepted in Kano where their samples were taken to NCDC for testing.
“The returnees happened to be indigenes of Jigawa; one of the samples returned positive and the other negative.
“The procedure is that wherever a sample is taken for testing, the result, positive or negative belongs to that particular state where the sample was taken from.
“We spoke with officials of Kano State on the need to treat the patient over there but it proved abortive, so our governor directed that the patient be brought to Jigawa for isolation and treatment.
“The patient has been isolated and is doing well,” Zakari said.
On why Kano Government rejected the patient, Zakari said that the explanation was that the victim was heading to Jigawa when intercepted besides the fact that he was an indigene of Jigawa.
“People should understand that dealing with issues surrounding COVID-19 requires cooperation.
“For instance, the Comptroller-General of Nigerian Immigration Service, Mr Muhammed Babandede, who is an indigene of Jigawa, tested positive to the virus, but was never recorded as a Jigawa case, because he was not tested in Jigawa; rather, he was confined and isolated at the FCT where his sample was taken.
“Winning the war against COVID-19 is a collective responsibility; therefore, residents are urged to strictly observe a high level of personal hygiene, follow government and expert advice, and avoid travels,” Zakari said. (NAN)
