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Kaduna records two COVID-19 deaths, blames illegal travels

By Abdulganiyu Alabi, Kaduna
11 May 2020   |   4:12 am
Kaduna State has recorded two deaths from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a senior male citizen from Igabi Council and a lady from Chikun Council.

Warns patients to submit for treatment as two flee after testing positive
Kaduna State has recorded two deaths from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a senior male citizen from Igabi Council and a lady from Chikun Council.

In a tweet from his official twitter handle, Governor Nasir el-Rufai also revealed that two more persons tested positive for the pandemic, bringing active cases in the state to 87.

Kaduna recorded its first fatality on May 2, when a retired civil servant that concealed his travel history to Kano died before the result of his test came out.

Last week, the government raised the alarm that majority of COVID-19 cases in the state had travel history and that such illegal inter-state travels were spreading the virus in the state.

From Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, The Guardian learnt that illegal travels increased the danger of community transmission, as infections were being recorded in some rural communities on the borders of the state.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, stated: “The Standing Committee on COVID-19 appeals for the vigilance and active involvement of all citizens in the effort to avert this peril.

“Positive COVID-19 test results have been recorded from seven councils: Giwa, Igabi, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Makarfi, Soba and Zaria.”

However, the state’s Ministry of Health has warned that anybody who tests positive for COVID-19 must submit themselves for treatment at the isolation centre.

This followed the absconding of two persons who tested positive for the virus in the state.

According to the ministry, it is illegal and dangerous for COVID-19 patients to switch off their phones and make themselves inaccessible to health authorities after being notified of their test results.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Mohammed-Baloni, who issued this warning yesterday, disclosed that two persons were duly informed that they had tested positive while on isolation on Friday.

“Health officials subsequently notified them that a team would be coming to convey them to the isolation centre for treatment. These persons subsequently switched off their phones and have remained incommunicado,” she revealed.

In a statement, the commissioner noted that the reckless action was endangering the lived of the patients, their families and the larger community.

“Similar irresponsible conduct by some COVID-19 cases has been reported in another state. It is a pattern of behaviour that must be stopped because it is patently dangerous to public safety.”

Noting that details of the two persons involved had been communicated to the security agencies for tracking and surveillance, she urged members of the public, who might have relevant information on the whereabouts of the patients to promptly contact the authorities.

“Twelve persons have so far been discharged in Kaduna State after receiving treatment and our health professionals are working hard for the recovery of other patients.

“However, positive but asymptomatic persons and untreated COVID-19 cases have a high chance of infecting others and endangering their well-being,” she added.

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