62 years old returnee from UK is second Covid-19 index person in Rivers

…35 Persons under intense medical surveillance in the state.

By Eric Olusesan

The identity of the second Covid-19 index case recorded in Rivers state is 62 year old returnee from UK who is also a retiree.

In an update briefing by the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Princewill Chike in Port Harcourt today explained said that the victim came from the UK on March 21 but spent a month there in Lagos International Airport and developed a flu-like symptoms.

The Health Commissioner said since the Victim returned he has been on self Isolation before he developed symptoms akin to flu.

Samples were collected from the Victim and in accordance to NCDC guidelines test but when test result was out it confirmed him to be positive of Covid-19.

He is presently at Isolation and treatment centre at Eleme, in Eleme Local Government area, which has a 30-bed space capacity.

Prof. Princewill Chike also noted that “the Risk communications will continue and that the treatment centre is active, noting that the state has 35 persons of under medical surveillance close monitoring who returned from abroad not too long ago”.

He called on the residents to stop trivializing Covid-19 and observe Social distancing, which is key to escaping Covid-19 infection and to avoid crowded places.

He said no cause for alarm, and if there is suspicion about Covid-19 People should dial the state Emergency numbers:

08056109538

08031888093

According to the announcement yesterday in a tweet by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, a new case has been found in Rivers with Five other cases, with a total number of cases in Nigeria hitting 238 as of 9:30pm on Monday 6th of April 2020.

It revealed that Kwara and Edo recorded two cases respectively while Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) confirmed a case each.

The total number of deaths recorded so far now stands at five while the figure of those who have been discharged increased from 33 to 35.