Nyesom Wike, Rivers State Governor, has confirmed the index positive case of coronavirus in the state, declaring that the state government has commenced contact tracing of those she had contact with.
Wike also announced that all markets in the state would remain closed from Saturday, March 28, 2020.
The governor also directed that all civil servants from Grade Level 1-10 were to remain at home from Friday (today) till further notice.
Speaking in a broadcast on Thursday, Wike said, “It is, however, unfortunate that despite all the preventive measures we put in place, our state has recorded a positive case as confirmed by the National Centre for Disease Control.
“The positive case is a 19-year-old female model from Edo State, who resides in Port Harcourt. Her travel history reveals that she travelled to France, Italy and Greece before returning to Port Harcourt on March 16, 2020.
“On arrival in Port Harcourt, she was asymptomatic and commenced self-isolation in her family house before her samples were collected and sent to the Reference Laboratory, Irrua in Edo State.
“The patient is presently being managed at the State Treatment Centre and she is doing excellently well. As it is in normal established practice, intensive line listing and contact tracing of all those she came in contact with have commenced in full force.
“In addition, samples have been collected from high risk contacts for further evaluations, while decontamination process has also commenced. As the state Chief Executive, I want to sincerely thank this young lady for her patriotic spirit, which aided health officials to get relevant information in this direction.”
“May I, therefore, urge you all to remain calm because there is no cause for alarm. The state government is fully prepared to ensure that the incident is contained to avoid further spread.”
The governor outlined additional measures to check the spread of coronavirus in the state.
He said, “All local government chairmen are to head task forces in their various local government areas that will ensure that markets remain closed. Council chairmen are empowered to confiscate the goods of defaulters.
“All commissioners and special advisers are to monitor the compliance of the above directives in their various local government areas. Security agencies have also been directed to enforce all the decisions taken by the Security Council.”
The governor said the state government could not relax the measures as requested by some organisations.
He said. “After our announcement about border closure, we have received requests from the following companies, Nigeria LNG Limited, Total E&P Nigeria Limited, International Breweries Plc, Oilserve Limited and Nigerian Gas Company to the effect that government should relax the measures because of their activities.
“Government cannot grant their requests now because the protection of human life is more important than any other thing and we shall do everything necessary to fulfil our obligation in this direction.
“However, we shall review our restrictions concerning their activities when we are fully convinced that it will be reasonable to do so.
