Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu Tests Positive To Coronavirus, As State Records 67 New Cases

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control, NCDC, has confirmed the sample submitted by the  Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu as positive.

The news was contained in a press statement signed by the state commissioner for information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu.

Read below the full statement…

Recall that on Saturday, 30th May, 2020, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu volunteered his sample for COVID-19 test and subsequently directed members of the state Executive Council (EXCO) and those of the inter ministerial committee on COVID-19 to submit themselves for the same test. On Tuesday, 2nd June, 2020. The result of Governor Ikpeazu’s test returned negative.

On Thursday, 4th June, 2020, the Governor submitted another sample at the Nigeria Center For Disease Control (NCDC) laboratory for confirmation and the result returned positive.

As a result, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has gone into isolation, as required by relevant NCDC protocols, and he is being managed by a competent team of medical practitioners with a view to nursing him back to good health.

Consequent on the above, the Governor has directed his Deputy, Rt Hon Ude Oko Chukwu, to act on his behalf pending his full resumption of duties.

We wish to urge all Abians to take the fight against COVID-19 serious as the disease is real but not a death sentence. Our state has the resources to manage patients back to good health.

Meanwhile, NCDC on 7th June, 2020, announced that Abia recorded 67 New cases of COVID19 adding to the previous 16 formally recorded totaling 83 Cases.

This is the first time Abia recorded such high number of virus since its outbreak.

It should be recall that, the Executive Secretary, Abia State Primary Health-Care Development Agency (ASPHCDA), Dr Chinagozi Adindu, has warned that if nothing positive was done in tackling the community spread of the Coronavirus the rural areas may be infected with the pandemic.

Dr. Adindu explained that the rate of the spread of the dreaded COVID-19 in the state through ‘Community Transmission’ is becoming worrisome, lamenting that most residents of the state have not yet embraced the various stipulated precautionary measures and protocols issued by government and health experts aimed at stopping its spread. (READ MORE: Abia May Record High Number Of Coronavirus Cases If… – ASPHCDA Secretary, Adindu Warns)