Coronavirus: Edo Speaker test positive as Obaseki isolates self after initial contact with Abba Kyari, Bauchi Gov

The Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye, has tested positive to Coronavirus (COVID-19), upon his return to Edo from the United Kingdom and he is the index case in the state, that was reported on Monday.

Upon the speaker’s return to Edo, he self-isolated, with his sample sent for testing and the test came back positive, but in a stable condition at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Esan Central Local Government Area of the state.

The two persons that Okiye had contact with were his wife and daughter, whose samples were taken, but the results were negative.

Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has also gone into self-isolation, with his samples sent for testing.

Obaseki had close contact with his Bauchi state counterpart, Senator Bala Muhammed, at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the National Economic Council (NEC) meetings, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, who he also visited, and have both (Muhammed and Kyari) tested positive for Coronavirus.

The revelations were made on Wednesday by Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, while briefing reporters at the Government House, Benin, on update on the dreaded Coronavirus.

Shaibu said: “Governor Obaseki, on his own, avoided meeting with everybody, upon his arrival in Benin City from Abuja and he maintained social distance, before going into self isolation.

“One hundred and eleven persons have been tracked by Edo State government. We have got in touch with 64 per cent of the 111 persons. Six of them have been isolated, while samples of five of them have been taken. Residents of Edo State should not conceal the pandemic.”

Edo deputy governor also disclosed that the state government had brought 40 drums of hand sanitisers, to be distributed to the LGAs, palaces and other public places free of charge.

On the measures taken so far, Shaibu said: “We still maintain that gathering of persons above 20 is prohibited. Markets remain closed, except for those selling essential commodities such as food and medicine.

“The Edo State COVID-19 Response Committee continues to meet daily to review the situation. Hope in the face of COVID-19.”

The deputy governor of Edo state also called on residents of the state not to panic, declaring that Coronavirus would be a death sentence if the suspected persons refused to report for testing of their samples or self-isolate.