A person who was suspected of contacting coronavirus in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, has been released to reunite with the society after test proved he was negative.
The person, whose identity was not released, was the first person to be tested for the virus in Northeast Nigeria.
The Yobe State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mohammed Gana, while addressing a press conference on Saturday at Emergency Operation Centre, Damaturu, said the 57-year old male patient came to Yobe state from California, United States, 17 days ago.
He said that the specimen of the suspected case was taken to Abuja, and both preliminary and subsequent tests results showed he was negative.
The Commissioner said there was no need for the fear of the virus in Damaturu metropolis and the adjourning council areas of the state.
He said, “The patient has since been discharged; as he was certified to have tested negative for carrying the virus.”
He disclosed that the Health Ministry called for a press conference to inform the public not to panic, assuring that there was no case of the virus in Damaturu.
He said: “The people should not ‘panic or fear’ of the virus that has already been tested negative in Damaturu metropolis.”
While speaking on preventive measures put in place, the Health Commissioner said: “We urge all residents to maintain their basic personal hygiene within and in their immediate environments. This will prevent people from contracting the virus through direct contacts with persons carrying the virus in communities and other public places.”
He added that State Government and development partners in Yobe would continue to train and retrain health workers on COVID-19 and other epidemic prone diseases.
“We’ll be identifying and training our contact monitors and adopt preventive measures against the coronavirus that claimed over 5,000 lives across the globe,” he assured.
