29032020 - El Rufai tests positive as experts insist on Total lockdown

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 29, 2020, PAGE 5
CORONAVIRUS CASES HIT 89: Gov <strong>El</strong>-<strong>Rufai</strong> <strong>tests</strong>
<strong>positive</strong> <strong>as</strong> <strong>experts</strong> <strong>insist</strong> on total lockdown
•Lagos dumps curfew, fumigates streets
•Benue gets index c<strong>as</strong>e
•Imo, Bayelsa, Enugu under lockdown
•Osun: 150 returnees quarantined
•Oyo partial shutdown: Makinde working on palliatives
•Kano disinfects streets, hospitals
•Anambra shuts markets
•Delta: London returnees forced into self-isolation
By Our Reporters
C
oronavirus crisis in
Nigeria escalated
yesterday <strong>as</strong> the number of
c<strong>as</strong>es hit 89.
The figure of infections w<strong>as</strong>
81 <strong>as</strong> of Friday night.
The escalation happened
on a day Governor N<strong>as</strong>ir el-
<strong>Rufai</strong> of Kaduna State tested
<strong>positive</strong> for coronavirus, also
called COVID – 19.
<strong>El</strong>-<strong>Rufai</strong> said, in a
statement, l<strong>as</strong>t night, “Earlier
this week, I submitted a
sample for the Covid-19 test.
The result came in this
evening, and I regret to say
that it is <strong>positive</strong>.
“According to the protocols
for managing Covid-19, I am
in self-isolation <strong>as</strong> required by
the c<strong>as</strong>e management
guidelines of the NCDC for
someone that is not showing
symptoms.
“I wish to appeal to the
people of Kaduna State to
continue to closely observe
the preventive me<strong>as</strong>ures
already announced.
“It is most important that
everybody should do their
utmost to stay safe, stay home
and stay alive.
“The Deputy Governor is
chairing our Covid-19
T<strong>as</strong>kforce and will continue
to issue statements from time
to time.”
The governor is the third
high profile personality in
Nigeria to test <strong>positive</strong> for
COVID-19 after Governor
Bala Mohammed of Bauchi
State and the Chief of Staff to
President Muhammadu
Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari.
The breakdown of the 89
coronarvirus c<strong>as</strong>es in the
country, <strong>as</strong> of yesterday,
showed that Lagos h<strong>as</strong> 59,
FCT 14, Ogun 3, Enugu and
Bauchi, 2 each, and Osun,
Rivers and Benue, 1 each.
Benue recorded its first c<strong>as</strong>e
of infection yesterday.
Worried health <strong>experts</strong>
have, in the meantime, called
for the total lockdown of the
country <strong>as</strong> against the partial
lockdown announced by
some states to combat the
ravaging virus.
The <strong>experts</strong> urged
government to initiate a
uniform strategy in the fight
against the virus, saying the
absence of decisiveness could
be dangerous for the country.
In various conversations
with Sunday Vanguard,
they
expressed
disappointment at the
Federal Government
response to the virus, saying
the nation w<strong>as</strong> losing the
opportunity to contain the
spread. (See interview on
pages 7—14).
Meanwhile, the
government of Lagos State,
the epicentre of the pandemic
in the country yesterday,
dumped its decision to
introduce dusk- to-dawn
curfew to fumigate the state.
In a tweet, the state said the
curfew w<strong>as</strong> called off
following <strong>experts</strong>’ advice,
adding that the fumigation
would go on across major
highways and bus stops.
In another development,
anxiety over President
Muhammadu Buhari’s
health status seemed to have
reduced following a meeting
the President held at the
Presidential Villa with
Minister of Health, Dr.
Osagie Ehanire and Director-
General, Nigeria Centre for
Dise<strong>as</strong>e Control, NCDC, Dr.
Chikwe Ihekweazu.
Buhari receives
briefing
In a tweet by the Personal
Assistant to the President on
New Media, B<strong>as</strong>hir Ahmad,
on his Tweeter handle,
@B<strong>as</strong>hirAhmaad, the
President w<strong>as</strong> said to have
received updates on the fight
against the virus.
According to the tweet, the
duo met with the President to
update him on the campaign
against the novel
Coronavirus pandemic.
The tweet, which w<strong>as</strong> made
at about 12:55 pm said the
meeting took place at the
President’s residence in the
Villa.
It read: “JUST IN:
President @MBuhari
receiving briefings from
Minister of Health and
Director-General of
@NCDCgov on Nigeria’s
fight against #COVID19
pandemic at his residence,
Presidential Villa, Abuja.’’
President Buhari, in the l<strong>as</strong>t
two days, had worked from
home after testing negative to
COVID-19. He w<strong>as</strong> l<strong>as</strong>t seen
at the office on Wednesday.
Stringent controls
On the heels of that, All
Progressives Congress, APC,
said speculations about
Buhari’s health were being
promoted by those it said had
long wished the President
dead.
The party added that
Nigeria’s response to
Coronavirus is working
under the supervision of
President Buhari.
A chieftain of the party,
Jackson Ojo, restated
growing calls for government
to have a defined strategy in
the fight against the virus.
He particularly called for
the replication of stringent
controls by Lagos and
Kaduna states at the federal
level.
Meanwhile, various state
governments continued to
scale up different me<strong>as</strong>ures
against the virus, with Benue
recording its index c<strong>as</strong>e
yesterday.
IMO: Gov Uzodinma
orders lockdown
Imo State, Governor Hope
Uzodimma ordered a
complete lockdown of the
state effective from yesterday
<strong>as</strong> part of me<strong>as</strong>ures to prevent
the dreaded Coronavirus.
In a state broadc<strong>as</strong>t, he
ordered the closure of all
markets indefinitely and
prohibited all forms of
marriage ceremonies.
He also banned funeral
ceremonies and prohibited
religious activities in
churches and mosques.
Uzodimma further
directed that all borders into
the state be barricaded,
adding that those coming into
Imo must be given a clean bill
of health by the health
officials.
He equally directed all
civil and public servants in
the state, except those on
approved essential duties, to
stop work immediately
He said a combined team
of military, police and other
security agencies would be
deployed to the streets to
ensure strict compliance with
the directives.
The governor, however,
noted that although the new
me<strong>as</strong>ures may cause some
inconvenience or hardship to
the people they were
inevitable.
Further me<strong>as</strong>ures
announced by the governor
to contain the virus include
the training of health
educators and distribution of
sanitizers to all the
communities in the state
“There is no denying the
fact that we are p<strong>as</strong>sing
through a very dangerous
time occ<strong>as</strong>ioned by the world
wide Corona pandemic.
Every policy directive and
action we have taken <strong>as</strong> a
government h<strong>as</strong> only one
objective; to protect our
people and safeguard our
children, “Uzodinma said.
ENUGU: Returnees
<strong>as</strong>ked to contact govt
In Enugu State, the
Ministry of Health reacted to
the two confirmed c<strong>as</strong>es of
Coronavirus, urging
residents not to panic.
The state government had
announced the closure of all
markets and land borders. It
also stopped inter-state
transportation in the state
until further notice, except
those on medical emergency
services.
Reacting shortly after the
NCDC announced the two
c<strong>as</strong>es in Enugu, via its twitter
account, the Permanent
Secretary, State Ministry of
Health, Dr. Ifeanyi Agujiobi
said: “The two patients, who
presented on their own, tested
<strong>positive</strong> for Corona Virus
(COVID-19)”.
Dr. Agujiobi disclosed that
the patients were returnees
from the United Kingdom
(UK).
BAYELSA: Govt orders
dusk-to-dawn curfew
Bayelsa State government
announced more me<strong>as</strong>ures
to contain the pandemic with
a travel restriction of
movement from 7 pm—
6am.
A statement by the state t<strong>as</strong>k
force on Covid-19 which w<strong>as</strong>
signed by the Permanent
Secretary, Ministry of
Information and
Orientation, Freston Akpor,
said all entry points into the
state would remain closed.
Meanwhile, activities at all
worship centres including
churches and mosques were
suspended with immediate
effect.
OYO: Gov Makinde
working on palliatives
Governor Seyi Makinde
informed residents of Oyo
State that his government w<strong>as</strong>
already working on
palliatives to e<strong>as</strong>e the
pressure on residents
following the partial
shutdown of activities <strong>as</strong> part
of the precautionary
me<strong>as</strong>ures to contain the
spread of Covid-19.
He, however, stated that the
state would need to work on
accurate data and design to
ensure that the palliatives get
into the hands of residents
with genuine needs for them
and not get cornered by
middlemen.
A statement signed by the
Chief Press Secretary to the
Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa,
said Makinde stated these
during a phone-in interview
programme on Fresh FM
105.9 and a one-hour
•Gov <strong>El</strong>-<strong>Rufai</strong>
Tweetchat on Twitter
yesterday, noting that the
government h<strong>as</strong> stepped up
enlightenment campaigns
on Covid-19 and
enforcement me<strong>as</strong>ures on the
lockdown of activities.
The governor maintained
that <strong>as</strong> part of me<strong>as</strong>ures to
contain the spread of the
dise<strong>as</strong>e in the state, the state
government in collaboration
with College of Medicine and
University College Hospital
h<strong>as</strong> set up a diagnostic centre
to handle testing of samples,
noting that the state w<strong>as</strong> only
awaiting NCDC
endorsement.
He explained that once the
centres are certified, they
would become e<strong>as</strong>ier to test
more people.
Governor Makinde added
that apart from the preventive
me<strong>as</strong>ures, the state h<strong>as</strong> set up
isolation centres, with a 4-bed
isolation unit in Ogbomoso,
10-bed at Jericho, 4-bed at
UCH and 100-bed capacity
at Olodo, Ibadan, which will
be ready on Thursday.
He noted that the ICU beds
in the state currently have
ventilators.
The governor further noted
that the state h<strong>as</strong> Dise<strong>as</strong>e
Surveillance and
Notification Officers in all 33
Local Government Are<strong>as</strong>,
LGAs, and 35 Local Council
Development Authorities,
LCDAs.
TARABA: Borders
closed, movement
restricted
The government of Taraba
State ordered the closure of
its borders.
That is in addition to the
restriction of movement in
and out of the state which
takes effect today.
Chief Press Secretary to
Governor Darius Ishaku,
H<strong>as</strong>san Mijinyawa, disclosed
this in a statement.
The statement said:
“Taraba State Governor,
Darius Ishaku h<strong>as</strong> banned
travels in and out of the state
with effect from today.
“The Commissioner of
Police and the Commandant
of National security and Civil
Defence Corps have been
directed to ensure strict
compliance.”
OGUN: Borders shut
Ogun State government,
yesterday evening,
announced the closure of its
borders with neighbouring
states and the international
border with the Republic of
Benin.
The closure, according to a
statement by the Chief Press
Secretary to the Governor,
Kunle Somorin, will be
effected at 12 midnight today.
It will be in force for two
weeks in the first instance.
With this restriction order,
movement in and out of the
state is thus banned <strong>as</strong> a
further me<strong>as</strong>ure to contain
coronavirus.
The statement explained
that the state is constrained
to effect border closure in
order to stem and flatten the
curve of the spread of the
dreaded corona virus
(COVID-19) pandemic, not
only in the state but in the
country and in the West
African sub-region.
“The position of Ogun
State is peculiar. It not only
shares an international
border with the Republic of
Benin, it does so with all other
states in the South West
(except Ekiti), including
Lagos State, which h<strong>as</strong>
understandably recorded the
highest number of infections
in the country largely because
it hosts the busiest air and sea
ports and it’s the nation’s
economic capital”, it said
.”The border closure will not
only be beneficial to Ogun
State but the national efforts
to curtail and contain the
virus. Lessons from other
climes strongly indicate that
closure of borders h<strong>as</strong> the
potential to dr<strong>as</strong>tically flatten
the curve of spread whilst
unrestricted movement
portends grave dangers”,
Governor Abidoun
explained.
The only exceptions to the
interstate restrictions are
vehicles conveying personnel
involved in essential services
such <strong>as</strong> security agencies,
health workers, food and
medical items and petroleum
products”.
EDO: Red Cross
inaugurates surveillance
volunteers
AS part of efforts to curtail
the spread of the dise<strong>as</strong>e, Edo
State Red Cross, yesterday,
inaugurated its surveillance
volunteers.
They are to take the
campaign and awareness
about the dise<strong>as</strong>e to the rural
are<strong>as</strong>.
State chairman of the
organisation, Festus Alenkhe,
said there is insufficient
information about the dise<strong>as</strong>e
in the rural are<strong>as</strong>.
ABIA: Govt denies
alleged c<strong>as</strong>e of
Coronavirus
In Umuahia, Abia State
government denied any c<strong>as</strong>e
of Coronavirus in Aba or any
other part of the state, stressing
that it w<strong>as</strong> prepared to
contain the virus if it
eventually comes to Abia.
An online news portal had
reported that a Lebanese had
lodged at Hotel Du Golf in
Aba and showed symptoms
of the dreaded Covid-19 and
urged the state government
to not only seal the hotel but
also track and quarantine all
guests and staff who may have
come in contact with the
foreigner.
DELTA: London
returnee apprehended,
forced to embark on selfisolation
A London returnee at
Okpanam, Oshimili North
Local Government Area,
Delta State, name withheld,
who reportedly <strong>as</strong>saulted
surveillance officers of the
Emergency Operation
Committee on COVID-19
h<strong>as</strong> been arrested and forced
to embark on self-isolation.
The man, who reportedly
returned from London on
March 23, refused to isolate
himself.
He w<strong>as</strong> said to be moving
freely in the town without
observing the 14 days
mandatory self-isolation.
Peeved by his behaviour,
some residents of the
community according to a
reliable source, reported the
matter to the Emergency
Operation Committee on
COVID-19, adding that the
returnee <strong>as</strong>saulted the team
members who went to his
residence to advise him to go
on self-isolation.
The returnee w<strong>as</strong>
subsequently apprehended
and taken to Okpanam
Police Station for questioning
but w<strong>as</strong> not detained for fear
of spreading the virus in c<strong>as</strong>e
he h<strong>as</strong> been infected.
Confirming the incident in
a statement, the State
Commissioner for Health,
Dr. Mordi Ononye,
said:”Surveillance Officers
who acted on information of
a returnee from London that
failed to self-isolate in line
with government directives
were <strong>as</strong>saulted by the
returnee.’’
ANAMBRA: Govt
closes 63 markets
Governor Willie Obiano
announced the closure of 63
major markets in the state <strong>as</strong>
part of me<strong>as</strong>ures to ensure
that people remained in their
homes.
The state had earlier closed
all schools and ordered civil
servants to remain at home,
while its borders with six
states would be shut.
Commissioner for
Information and Public
Enlightenment, Mr. Son
Adinuba, who said the closure
would take effect tomorrow,
explained that the exceptions
were foodstuff and medicine
markets.
According to him, the new
order followed a series of
consultations with various
stakeholders in the markets
across the state.
KANO: Govt disinfects
streets, hospitals
Also, Governor Abdullahi
Umar Ganduje of Kano State
spearheaded the fumigation
and disinfectant exercise of
some strategic public places
against the spread of
Coronavirus.
Ganduje kick-started the
exercise with the fumigation
of the entrance of
Government House, state
roads and Muhammadu
Abdullahi W<strong>as</strong>e Specialist
Hospital.
The exercise w<strong>as</strong> carried
out in collaboration with
Aspira Limited – a subsidiary
of Lee group of companies.
Continues on page 33