Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has been isolation for 10 days for Corona Virus, the State Deputy Governor, Mr. Benson Abounu, has said.
Abounu disclosed this on Sunday while speaking to journalists after
an Inter-denominational Service held at the ECWA Church in Makurdi, which was part of events to mark the 2021 Armed Forces remembrance day.
The deputy Governor explained that Governor Ortom decided to go into isolation after a medical report indicated that a certain Permanent Secretary (whose name he did not mention) and his family members tested positive to coronavirus.
“I have passed my message and that is what is important. There was a permanent secretary and his family members who tested positive but thank God all of them are responding to treatment and are doing well.”
He said the Governor will remain in isolation for these number of days until he is certified negative.
“As I speak with you, the Governor has been in isolation for about nine days now and there are no symptoms, no signs of the virus. So, I am happy to inform you that by tomorrow, we should be able to certify him free and he will resume work,” he said.
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Abounu also decried the rate at which the virus has killed several personalities in the state, lamenting that the state has lost four prominent persons including a serving local government chairman in the last five days.
“I want to reiterate that the virus is real and it is the biggest affront facing us. The State has an infection rate of over 489 persons. We are still doing relatively well compared to other states of the federation. I wish that we continue observing the protocols. Prevention is actually the in thing.
“What I have told the medical men in recent times is that once someone comes down with pneumonia, in addition to treating the pneumonia, they should also give the person COVID-19 treatment even without test. That is helping so far,” he said
He insisted that the only way to fight the virus is by keeping to Nigeria Center for Disease Control, NCDC, protocol.
He urged residents to be cautious.
While lauding the commitment of security agencies to the relative peace in the State, he urged them not to relent in ensuring the safety of the people.
