Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has spoken to Deltans on the maiden Coronavirus case confirmed in the State on Tuesday.
According to the Governor, before the announcement by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Tuesday evening, the index case has been in the state for weeks before the lockdown.
Governor Okowa during a state-wide broadcast on Wednesday, said that the index case of the COVID-19 virus in the state is being treated at one of the four emergency management centers.
Hours after the confirmation of the case, rumours had gone round that the index case was the member representing Ughelli North Constituency II in the Delta State House of Assembly, Prince Eric Oharisi.
However, Governor Okowa during the broadcast said it is not true that any member of the House of Assembly in Delta State has contracted the infection.
“That is not true. But that does not actually mean that anybody in government cannot contract the infection,” Okowa said, advising that everybody has to be careful in the State.
He revealed that the confirmed index case has been in the State for some weeks and that only the person in question has the right to reveal his identity publicly.
“The person in question has been in Delta State for some weeks. So, he did not just come in from another State during the course of the lockdown. At the moment, we are doing our tracking. We are getting more information on the incident case, and when we have more information, we would be able to communicate to the State.
“It is only the right of that person to publicly tell us [his name]. It is not for me to release the name. It is for me to pass information that needs to be passed to Deltans. But the person did not come from another State. He has been within the State in the last few weeks.
“There have been a lot of insinuations concerning the fact that a member of the House of Assembly of Delta State has contracted this infection. That is not true. But that does not actually mean that anybody in government cannot contract the infection.
“Everybody is careful. Everybody has to be in the rule. But it is important that things are put right. No member of the House of Assembly has contracted COVID-19. But whosoever that contracts it, it is not a death sentence neither should any of such persons be stigmatised in any form. All we owe such persons is to pray for them,” Okowa said.
Meanwhile, the Governor had urged Deltans to maintain calm in face of the outbreak of the virus in the State.
Immediately the NCDC confirmed the COVID-19 index case in the State, the Governor took to his official Twitter handle to allay fears of Deltans.
“This evening, a patient in Delta State tested positive for the #COVID19 virus. This index case is already receiving the necessary treatment at one of our isolation centers. Tomorrow morning, I will be addressing our citizens on developments surrounding this case.
“Again, I ask that you all remain calm at this time and continue to adhere to the precautionary measures and isolation directives that we have put in place to keep you and your families safe. I have no doubt whatsoever that we will all get through this together,” the Governor tweeted.
