The Edo State Government has announced the discharge of 58 additional coronavirus (COVID-19) patients who have tested negative for the virus and discharged from state isolation centers to return to their families.
State Commissioner for Health, Patrick Okundia, who spoke to journalists in Benin City, commended the sacrifice , resilience and dedication of health workers and other key staff on the frontlines of government efforts to curb the pandemic.
The Commissioner also stressed the need to protect the elderly population of the state, urging citizens to comply with all guidelines and protection measures to minimize the spread of the virus in the state.
Mr Okundia noted that 11 new confirmed cases had been recorded by the State in the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) laboratory.
He said that Edo has identified a total of 8,350 suspected cases, 1,885 confirmed cases, 62 deaths and 1,208 discharges so far, adding that the state has tested more than 8,759 people and is in touch with 4,756 others throughout the state’s 18 local government areas.
The Commissioner, who described screening and testing as key to the government’s efforts to combat the pandemic, urged all residents to comply with government directives aimed at ensuring the health and safety of all Edo people.
“While the government ramps up efforts to win the war against this common enemy, it is imperative that residents stay at home and observe social distancing guidelines and other precautionary measures against the spread of the disease, including regular handwashing with soap under running water and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers. Cover your mouth and nose properly when sneezing and/or coughing.
“Two toll-free lines for COVID-19 response have been introduced by Edo State Government to strengthen the initial lines from the State Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO) distributed at the onset of the outbreak. If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, please call 08001235111 or 08002200110 for assistance,” he said.
