Following the reports by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, that Rivers State, Port Harcourt has recorded its first case of COVID-19 a disease caused by Coronavirus.
The state governor, Nyesom Wike has revealed the Identity of the index case. According to him, the patient is a 19yrs old girl -model- who had traveled to Italy, Greece and France, places with high risk of coronavirus.
The Governor, however, added that the patient, a native of Edo State, had came back to Port Harcourt on 16th of March, on noticing symptoms of the virus, she went into self isolation and her sample were collected, result came out and she was positive.
“It is however unfortunate that despite all the preventive measures we put in place, our State has recorded a positive case as confirmed by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)”, Mr. Wike wrote on twitter.
The positive case is a 19-year-old female model from Edo State who resides in Port Harcourt. Her travel history reveals that she travelled to France, Italy and Greece before returning to Port Harcourt on the 16thof March, 2020.
— Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (@GovWike) March 26, 2020
A press statement signed by him, read thus…
“The positive case is a 19-year-old female model from Edo State who resides in Port Harcourt. Her travel history reveals that she travelled to France, Italy and Greece before returning to Port Harcourt on the 16thof March, 2020.
“On arrival to Port Harcourt, she was asymptomatic and commenced self isolation in her family house before her samples were collected and sent to the Reference Laboratory, Irruan in Edo State.”
“The patient is presently being managed at the State Treatment Centre and she is doing excellently well.
“As it is in normal established practice, intensive line listing and contact tracing of all those she came in contact with has commenced in full force.
“In addition, samples have been collected from high risk contacts for further evaluations while decontamination process has also commenced.
“As the State Chief Executive, I want to sincerely thank this young lady for her patriotic spirit which aided health officials to get relevant information in this direction
‘May I, therefore urge you all to remain calm because there is no cause for alarm.
“The State Government is fully prepared to ensure that the incident is contained to avoid further spread.
All Civil Servants from Grade Levels 1 – 10 are to remain at home from Friday, March 27 until further notice.
“All markets in the State no matter how small are to remain closed with effect from Saturday, March 28, 2020.
“All Local Government Chairmen are to head Task Forces in their various Local Government Areas that will ensure that markets remain closed.
“Council Chairmen are empowered to confiscate the goods of defaulters.
“All Commissioners and Special Advisers are to monitor the compliance of the above directives in their various Local Government Areas.
“Security Agencies have also been directed to enforce all the decisions taken by the Security Council.
After our announcement about border closure, we have received requests from the following companies, Nigeria LNG Limited.
“Total E&P Nigeria Limited, International Breweries PLC, Oilserve Limited and Nigerian Gas Company to the effect that Government should relax the measures because of their activities.
“Government cannot grant their requests now because the protection of human life is more important than any other thing and we shall do everything necessary to fulfill our obligation in this direction.
“However, we shall review our restrictions concerning their activities when we are fully convinced that it will be reasonable to do so. Let me reiterate that we have taken these painful decisions because we cannot afford to lose any life in this State.
“It is very important at this stage that all citizens continue to practice hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and social distancing to keep our dear State safe.
