The Ekiti State Government on Wednesday, May 6, has announced that the state has set to test 100,000 residents for COVID-19, otherwise known as Coronavirus before June ending to ensure early detection of the virus in the state.
In a statement disclosed on Wednesday by the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Kayode Fayemi on Public Affairs, Chief Niyi Ojo.
Ojo, who attributed the low number of COVID-19 cases in the state to the early preparations put in place by the state government, charged the security agencies to step up efforts at the borders to ensure the disease was not sneaked into the state through inter-state travellers.
The governor’s aide, who spoke through an online interaction in Ado Ekiti, said, “Before June, the government would have tested more than 100,000 indigenes. A testing centre will be opened soon in Ekiti.
“Ekiti State has been very proactive, hence the low figures of infected persons due to high sensitising on the pandemic. We are prepared for eventualities.
“We have been able to stem the tide if not for unscrupulous elements in the security arms that compromised their lines of duty. We only need to appeal to our security agents to be alive to their responsibilities,” he said.
Also contributing, the National Public Relations Officer, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Dr Abidemi Omonisi, urged Nigerians to play safe in order not to be infected with the contagious disease.
Omonisi said, “From the various medical indicators, the virus is here with us for now. We are still not at the peak yet. Let’s continue to stay safe. COVID- 19 is very real.”
The medical consultant, who said preparations to tackle COVID-19 started rather late in Nigeria, said, “However, we must give kudos to Lagos and Ekiti states for being pragmatic in combating the pandemic. Ekiti State Task Force on COVID- 19 was constituted when there was no single outbreak in the state. This is commendable.
“Nigeria as a country started her various preparations late. I guess our leaders initially thought the outbreak would not reach the country. However, diseases do not respect international boundaries. PTF was constituted very late. Training of health workers started in March at the federal level after the index case in the country,” he said.
