Rose Ejembi, Makurdi
The Benue State Action Committee on coronavirus has disclosed that over 23 persons who had closed contact with the Benue index case of COVID-19, Susan Okpe, have been traced and are now self isolating in their homes with close monitoring by the committee.
Benue State Commissioner for Health and Secretary of the Benue Action Committee on Coronavirus, Dr Sunday Ongbabo who disclosed this to newsmen on telephone on Friday also stated that the Benue index case has been transfered to the National Hospital isolation center in Abuja on the orders of the Minister of Health.
He added that the entire staff of the private hospital in Makurdi (name withheld) which earlier attended to Mrs. Okpe including one of the nurses who earlier ran to hide in her village had been isolated with the state government taking full responsibility of their wellbeing.
Ongbabo revealed that the Federal Ministry of Health wrote to the Benue Covid-19 action committee requesting that the state’s index case, Susan Okpe be transferred to Abuja, and the committee obliged.
The Commissioner urged Benue citizens to fully observe preventive measures against the of the pandemic, social distancing, washing of hands and proper hygiene and sanitary practices, stressing that it was the only way to go in the face of this global health crisis.