Ekiti begins random test on coronavirus
Ekiti begins random test on coronavirus
|
From Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti
Ekiti state government on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti the capital city, commenced random test on Coronavirus.
The state had earlier announced that it would commence random test for residents of the state.
During the announcement, the government also restated its commitment not to allow security agencies enforcing the lockdown to infringe on the rights of the suspected offenders in the state.
Speaking during the weekly briefing by the Ekiti state COVID-19 task force committee, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, spoke extensively on the readiness of the state to scrutinize all claims by institutions that they have produced herbal cure for COVID 19, saying that they must pass through medical screening before approval.
She said the random testing , which will be done across the 16 local government areas and which must be undertaken in view of the geometric increase in number of COVID 19 victims, will not be done by coercion, but through sensitisation and volition .
Yaya-Kolade revealed that the state would soon set up a molecular laboratory to boost the state’s testing capacity , so that many people can know their statuses and be aware of their safety .
The Commissioner stated that the state presently has only five patients in the isolation centre, which she said are stable, responding to treatment and assymptomatic .
“We are still tracing some contacts and we are expecting our molecular laboratory soon just as we are still preaching prevention and containment through usage of masks and keep to personal hygiene and social financing.
“We will begin random testing next week to stop community spread. The state is doing a lot of infection prevention trainings for our health workers.
“We are also thinking about complying with the new NCDC regulations that you can discharge after first negative, if you are overburdened with patients. But we are going to be cautious in applying this.
“Those coming through the borders should stay away. They are not wanted here, because many of the cases we have had were brought from outside”.
Speaking further on the border porosity, the Director General, Office of Strategic Transformation and Delivery, Prof Bolaji Aluko, said the measure becomes the best alternative because the scourge was brought in by outsiders.
“We are getting calls that some people are coming from the North, but let our informants provide their lines, so that they can be easily traced for interrogation”.
The Commissioner for Environment, Hon Gbenga Agbeyo, said the state has put up proper machinery to arrest and prosecute violators of the lockdown in Ekiti, particularly those flouting the closure of major markets and border areas.
Agbeyo said another round of fumigation will begin today(Thursday) in the state capital before proceeding to the remaining 15 local governments to disinfect environment and curtail the spread of Coronavirus.