After recording first Covid-19 death, Jigawa locks down state capital, 7 LGs

Jigawa state has recorded its first death of a COVID-19 case. The state government, following this development, has locked down the state capital and seven local government areas.

Blueprint reports that the deceased was a Lagos returnee and a resident of Fanisau community in Dutse, the state capital, who died few hours after he was moved to an isolation centre.

Residents said, the deceased, on returning from Lagos, had been receiving treatment at home for yet to be identified ailment until his sample was taken and returned positive.

Addressing reporters on the issue on Wednesday night, the chairman COVID-19 taskforce in the state, Dr. Abba Zakari said the state had also recorded nine cases in eight LGAs.

His words: “The state recorded a total of nine cases involving eight out of its 27 local government areas. The affected local councils are Gumel, Auyo, Gwaram, Kazaure, Miga, Taura, Birnin-Kudu and Dutse, respectively.”

Dr Zakari who is also the state Commissioner for Health said, “Immediately we got the results of Jigawa, we swiftly moved into action and evacuated the patients into the isolation centre. Unfortunately, one of them came in a very bad shape and passed away.”

The commissioner said the inability of the state to test as many samples as possible from those currently in isolation centre had aggravated the fight against the COVID-19.

“We are discussing with a private laboratory in Kaduna, which is accredited by the NCDC. The laboratory has a capacity to do 2000 tests per day but we are negotiating the price. We may likely test all our suspected cases at the isolation centre,” Zakari said.

Following this development, Governor Mohammad Badaru Abunakar has ordered the affected LGAs to be locked down to enable health workers trace the primary and secondary contacts of the infected persons.

The state government has also commenced distribution of palliatives in the locked down areas to cushion the effects on the vulnerable members of the communities.

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