Abia State, on Monday, April 20th, 2020, said it has recorded two cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the state.

The state’s Commissioner for information, Chief John Okiyi-Kalu, disclosed this in a statement, saying that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed the cases.

However, he added that the result of one Prosper Vincent, who was arrested and subsequently quarantined in the state came back negative.

The statement read in part,

We have received the report of two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Abia State this (Monday) evening from NCDC. Both patients are advanced in age but currently stable at an isolation centre in our state.

On the direction of the Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, we have deployed our ventilators to the isolation center in readiness for their use if eventually required to nurse them back to good health.

Our well-trained medical personnel are offering all necessary support and we hope and pray the patients survive this ailment.

Contact tracing has commenced in earnest and our rapid response team is currently moving to bring in those who may have had contact with the two index cases.

Meanwhile, the result of “Prosper Vincent” returned negative and he will promptly be released from isolation.

He also advised the residents of the state not to panic, but continue to adhere to all the guidelines issued by NCDC and the state’s COVID-19 inter-ministerial committee.

Based on the age of the patients, we are looking at a possible community transmission and will strongly advise that all those who may have come in contact with the two individuals who hail from Ukwa and Umuahia North areas of the state immediately call 0700 2242 362,

he added.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.