Anambra: Obiano laments Covid-19 spike, urges residents on WHO protocols

Anambra state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has expressed worry over spike of coronavirus pandemic in the state, alluding it to refusal of people to observe the WHO safety protocol or go into isolation centres when tested positive.

According to Obiano, two persons who tested positive to the pandemic during the Yuletide ignored advice to embark on isolation but rather went in for wedding.

 The governor, in a statement signed by the commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C. Don Adinuba, lamented that the state had in the past two weeks recorded 80 confirmed COVID-19 cases, an average of 40 per week.

“Reports from across Anambra State show a huge increase in the incidence which if not arrested now will produce a catastrophic result in the near future. There are 80 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state since the second wave began two weeks ago, meaning an average of 40 cases per week. In contrast, the state used to record nine cases per week on average in the first wave.

“The state government feared a big increase during the Christmas and New Year festivities because of millions of people coming into Anambra State from different parts of the country and beyond, so it began early enough to issue advisories on how to contain the second wave of the pandemic. There are two persons who a few days ago came for testing and were confirmed to be positive. Instead of isolating themselves, they rejoined a wedding party and may have infected a number of people,” he stated.

Obiano, however, appealed to the people to go for tests and possible treatment which according to him, were still free in Anambra, as his team works tirelessly to prevent any loss of live in the second wave of coronavirus.

“Chief Obiano advised people to comply with such COVID-19 requirements as constant wearing of face masks which will cover their faces and noses, regular washing of hands regularly with running water and soap and keeping social distancing of two metres, so as to avoid a situation which can cause the authorities to impose heavy restrictions in the overriding public interest.

“Meanwhile, the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala, has advised health professionals in the state to treat “every case of ‘malaria’ as COVID-19 until proved otherwise. This is because some people treated for malaria later turned out to be COVID-19 patients, in some cases discovered too late. A key element in successful COVID-19 case management is early detection which results in early treatment,” he said.

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