Enugu confirms 19 new COVID-19 cases, shuts hospital over rising workers’ infection

Ohuabunwa bemoans increasing incidents in Abia

The Enugu State Government yesterday confirmed 19 new cases of coronavirus, lamenting that with the new development, confirmed cases of COVID-19 have risen to 76 with five deaths, 44 active and 27 discharged cases.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ikechukwu Obi, stressed that COVID-19 was real and urged residents to continue to adhere to necessary protocols to protect themselves and stay at home when there was no emergency and wear face masks if they must go out. Besides, the state government shut down a health facility in New Haven following reports that some of its workers had tested positive for the virus.

The hospital, a Health Management Organisation (HMO) for workers of some corporate organisations and institutions in the state, was shut after its staff members had contact with a case, now spreading to other workers of the hospital.

As part of efforts to address health needs of its patients and members of the public while tackling other challenges of coronavirus, the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla partnered the Health-In-A-Box initiative of the Federal Ministry of Health to introduce a telemedicine hospital response service.

Chief Medical Director of UNTH, Dr. Obinna Onudugo, said the technology-driven support system enables regular patients to dial-in to access critical health information and consult with medical practitioners.

Meanwhile, former representative of Abia North Senatorial District, Mao Ohuabunwa has expressed concern over the rising cases of COVID-19 infections in Abia State, saying the initial seven active cases had risen to 166, including Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, whose case was confirmed last week.

Ohuabunwa, who spoke while distributing face masks to his constituents, noted that the Deputy Governor, Dr. Ude Oko Chukwu, earlier described Aba as particularly vulnerable to the pandemic based on reports.

“According to predictions, the rate of infection may still rise as more persons will be tested soon when the two molecular laboratories take off as equipment for the laboratories are expected to arrive from the United States of America this weekend,” he stated.

He, therefore, urged the people of the state to ensure that they abide by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC’s) preventive protocols to avoid further infections.