By Audrey Lotechukwu
FRI, JUN 26 2020-theG&BJournal- The list of high profile Nigerians to succumb to coronavirus continues to grow since the death of the former Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Abba Kyari. Former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has succumbed to the disease and the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has been in isolation after testing positive for coronavirus.
The latest is the daughter of the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa who tested positive Thursday forcing the entire family to go into self-isolation for 14 days.
Governor Okowa tweeted the news Friday, ‘’earlier today, Edith (his wife) and I received the news that one of our daughters has tested positive for COVID-19,’’ he said, adding, ‘’hence, in-line with laid out procedures, we are both going into isolation for the next 14 days.’’
The news comes as the Delta State Government intensified efforts at stemming the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba, confirmed the development.
“It is again pertinent to stress that COVID-19 is real, and citizens are advised to be disciplined and comply with the protocols of wearing Face Masks and maintaining physical-distancing while in public places as well as basic hygiene of hand-washing with soap in running water and use of alcohol-based sanitizers as Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC regulation demands,” Ifeajika said to buttress the potent nature of the disease following frequent flouting of laid down health protocols to stem the spread of the disease.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha emphasized the deadliness of the disease Thursday during the Presidential Task Force Briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja, saying that ‘’ it has no respect for status, nationality and race, tribe or colour. Every person infected must be treated to prevent spread and avoid fatalities,’’ he said.
He illustrated its devastating impact with lessons drawn from other jurisdiction-Europe, China and the United States of America (US). He said ‘’the rising number and resurgence in some cases should also be of concern to us.’’
Of particular concern is the case of Brazil which has exceeded the 1 million mark of confirmed cases with over 60, 000 fatalities. ‘’We have informed you that Brazil shares several cultural and demographic and climatic affinities with us, if any lesson is to be learnt, Brazil should be a subject of interest that will make us change our behaviour,’’ he warned.
Meanwhile, Nigeria has continued to see a surge in the spread of the disease across with the country total number of infection reaching 22,614 on Thursday putting it among countries with the fastest rate of spread of COVID-19. The NCDC has so far tested 122,155 and 7,822 recoveries recorded. But 549 people have so far been confirmed dead from coronavirus.
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