Plateau governor, Lalong
By Raymond Gukas, Jos
Plateau State Government has averted a law suit from families of the first index Coronavirus patient in the state, after results of the patient was released to the public.
Governor Simon Lalong stated this in a statewide broadcast to the people of the state even as he announced continuation of the total lockdown in the state.
According to him, henceforth, the lockdown would be observed every midnight of Sundays while Thursday midnight of every week shall be observed as period for restocking of food and other essential family items.
On the unprofessional release of the results of the index case, the governor said it was “regrettably, the government discovered the unfortunate leakage of the test result conducted at the COVID-19 Laboratory of the National Veterinary Research Institute Vom, which found its way to the social media.
“This unprofessional conduct is being investigated thoroughly and anyone found culpable will be dealt with accordingly. We have equally reached out to the affected persons and their families to reassure them and mitigate the situation”
He said health officials had contact traced further spread and infection after the discovery of the infection and this has largely been carried out with 19 contacts traced and isolated while the index case remains in isolation for treatment and is in stable condition.
Lalong happily announced that the results of all the “19 contacts associated with the index case have been received and all of them are negative.”
The governor stressed that the state was making appreciable improvement on the fight because in addition to measures in ground, “the results of 65 other suspected cases earlier sent for investigation were received today, which all returned negative.”
However, he emphasised that the government was concerned about the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the education sector which at the moment, “learning has started with Television and Radio lessons for children in Mathematics and English transmitted on the Plateau Radio Television Corporation from 9-11am weekdays.
“In addition, we have produced simplified study materials that are being distributed to children especially in rural areas that may not access Radio and Television services, and Government is also partnering with U-LESSON Education, one of the new Education Technology Company in Nigeria founded by one of the illustrious sons of Plateau State, Mr. Sim Shagaya that will offer online science education to secondary school students.”
With government’s in the fight, he lamented that there were breaches in the inter-state borders which remained a major challenge to the efforts at combating the virus.
“We are strategizing and re-inforcing the borders especially illegal routes. It is important to warn that stiffer penalties and actions will be applied to violators no matter their status,” he declared.
