COVID-19 cases hit 1,678 in Kano as WAEC candidates get free sanitisers, others

Four months after the first case of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was confirmed in Kano State, the pandemic has risen to 1,678 with mortality rate of 3.22 per cent.

To flatten the curve, the state government yesterday disclosed that each of the 27,454 candidates for West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) tests in private and public schools would be provided with free Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and hand sanitisers before the commencement of the examination.

Addressing journalists yesterday in Kano, the state coordinator of COVID-19 technical response team, Dr. Tijani Hussaine, revealed that 43,545 samples had been collected since April 11, 2020 when the index case was recorded.

Hussaine disclosed that 1,334 patients recovered, 54 died while 289 were being treated at home and isolation centres.He revealed that poor compliance to COVID-19 protocols, especially the wearing of face masks and physical distancing, was not helping government’s efforts.

Lack of testing capacity of existing labs scaled down activities of the response team, he added.

The commissioner disclosed that preparation had reached advance stage to approve the resumption of JSS 3 students ahead of their examination scheduled to begin before the end of August.

“This is a philanthropic, magnanimous and civic responsibility gesture. We are happy to receive it and recognise Hyundai Motors and Stallion Group as our partners in development. The groups pay their taxes and invest in the state. This year alone, they have invested $50 million in building a new CKD plant and will be investing another €20 million on flexible packaging, which we use for a lot of our foods and other products,” she said.

The Chief Executive Officer of Stallion Group, Mr. Anant Badjatya, said the contribution was part of Hyundai’s commitment to support those in need in the region. He thanked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his vision and the team for efficiently handling the situation.

The Vice President, Head of Hyundai Motor Company Middle East and Africa HQs, Bang Sun Jeong, said: “Caring for humanity has always been at the heart of Hyundai’s vision, and having assisted those in need around the world, we are proud to expand our support to countries across the Middle East and Africa region that have been hardest hit by the pandemic.”