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By:Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Bayelsa state taskforce on the Covid-19 pandemic has again reported the confirmation of additional nine new covid-19 cases outside the batch of nine confirmed few days ago and the third covid-19 related death in the state.
This was made known to The Tide by the Taskforce in a press statement issued at the Weekend.
The press statement signed by the Deputy chairman of the state Covid-19 taskforce and permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Inodu Apoku,noted that the discovery of the nine additional cases was made possible by the robust surveillance and aggressive testing being carried out by the taskforce.
He noted that with the confirming of these nine new cases, the total number of cases has now reached 30 just as he emphasised the need for Bayelsans to continue the observance of safety measures.
“Five days ago, Bayelsa recorded nine new confirmed cases of COVID -19. On Thursday again, we recorded another nine new confirmed cases of COVID -19. This was not unexpected because of our robust survelliance activities and improved testing rates. We averagely send forty samples on daily basis to the UPTH Reference Laboratory”, he said.
“The core of our COVID -19 mitigation strategy is to test aggressively, isolate, treat and conduct robust contacts tracing. It is also now apparent we are dealing with community transmission. These nine newly confirmed cases bring the total number of confirmed cases in the State to 30. Four of out of these nine cases are contacts of previously confirmed cases while five are not epidemiologically linked to any of the previous confirmed cases. Three of these cases are health care professionals”, he added.
The Deputy chairman stated that one of the fresh unlinked cases was brought in critically ill and died few minutes after admission,saying the history of the sickness as was revealed by the relatives of the new deceased victim made the taskforce to take samples for COVID -19 testing where She unfortunately died a COVID -19 suspected case.
Apoku restated that She has since been buried after relatives were counselled on safe burial practices.
“The test result returned positive and as such we have another COVID -19 related death making a total of three such deaths in the State”, the taskforce said.
The taskforce hinted that the remaining eight new cases have since been evacuated for further treatment at the state Isolation facilities while their contacts are being line listed and will be adequately followed up.
They assured the public that all necessary protective measures ranging from environmental decontamination and others are being undertaken to curb the spread of the deadly virus,reiterating that samples are still being collected from their high -risk contacts while they have all been counselled on self-quarantine, risk communication amongst other preventive indices.
The taskforce revealed that amonst the remaining active cases, three were discharged Friday while the state still has fifteen active cases of COVID -19.
“All the remaining cases are clinically stable. The State Government Quarantine Facility has since been admitting contacts who are unable to self-quarantine. They have been very cooperative while enjoying the luxury provided at this centre”, the taskforce added.
