The Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, has tested positive to the coronavirus disease. The Governor has gone into isolation and directed the state’s deputy governor to act on his behalf as he receives treatment.
This was disclosed in a press statement by the Abia State Commissioner for Information, John Kalu on Monday June 8, 2020.
According to the statement, ‘’On Saturday, 30th May, 2020, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu volunteered his sample for Covid-19 test and subsequently directed members of the state executive council (EXCO) and those of the inter-ministerial committee on covid-19 to submit themselves for the same test.
‘’On Tuesday, 2nd June, 2020, the result of Governor Ikpeazu’s test returned negative. On Thursday, 4th June, 2020, the Governor submitted another sample at NCDC laboratory for confirmation and the result returned positive’’
The statement further adds that the Governor has gone into isolation as required by relevant NCDC protocols and is being managed by a competent team of medical practitioners with a view to nursing him back to good health.
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The Governor, however, noted that testing positive to the coronavirus disease is not a death sentence and asked Abians to take the fight against the disease seriously as it is real.
It can be recalled that the NCDC reported 260 positive cases yesterday and in an unprecedented outcome, Abia State, topped the list with 67 confirmed cases.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 12,486 cases with 3,959 discharged cases and 354 casualties.
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The Minister for health, Osagie Ehanire, a few days ago, raised an alarm over the high rate of casualties from the coronavirus pandemic in the country.
GOV OKEZIE IKPEAZU TESTS POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS, DIRECTS DEPUTY GOV TO ACT ON HIS BEHALF.
— YOUNG PROGRESSIVES PARTY (YPP) ABIA STATE (@YPPABIASTATE) June 8, 2020