Bauchi to soon establish COVID-19 testing centre

By Apex News Exclusive On Apr 7, 2020
Bauchi Deputy Governor, Senator Tela, briefs the media on COVID-19 issues in the state

By Baba Shehu Oscu, Bauchi

The Bauchi State Government has revealed that it will soon establish COVID-19 testing center in the state.

Senator Baba Tela, who is the State Deputy Governor gave the confirmation of the  plan while briefing journalists on the daily update of COVID-19 in the state held at the Government House, Bauchi, where he said the establishment of the center in Bauchi will ensure prompt and timely testing of suspected index cases of the virus.

Baba Tela, who is also the Chairman of the State Rapid Response Taskforce on COVID-19 and Lassa Fever, explained that establishment of the centre would reduce the difficulties usually faced before accessing tests to coronovirus in Abuja.

He said; “If this is actualized, we can conduct our tests in Bauchi easily without any further problems.

“The state government is working sleeplessly in close collaboration with those that matters in the business to ensure the actualization of the establishment of the testing center for Coronovirus in the state.”

On the issue of borders closure  to check the spread of the infection, Tela expressed worry over the non-compliance of the closure of borders, saying that the measure is to maintain sanity in the management of the virus.

The Deputy Governor said the state has received  donations of N2. 5 million in addition to food items of about N1.5 million from an NGO based in the state, adding that civil servants in the state have pledged to contribute from their salaries for 3 months starting from April to  June to compliment the efforts of the state government in tackling the spread of the virus.

He unfolded that Permanent Secretaries donated 10 percent, Directors in the state and local government areas are contributing 5 percent while other categories of the civil servants on grade levels 1-12 are contributing 2 percent. 

Commenting on a trending story that Governor Bala Mohammed has tested negative to COVID-19 infection, Tela said that the government is still awaiting the results from the NCDC.