Fresh Fears Over Coronavirus In Imo As suspected Carrier Dies In Owerri
. Reported To Have Come Back From Germany
Said To Have Visited A Hospital, Lab At Mbaise
. Rushed To A Hospital In Owerri Where He Died
Tuunji Adedeji
Palpable confusion, tension and disbelief have enveloped communities across Imo State, following the reported death of a suspected carrier of corona virus, Covid – 19 in Salvation Hospital on MCC Road, Owerri.
Trumpeta gathered that the deceased before his demise came back from Germany, reported at a Hospital and lab at Mbaise before he got to FMC Owerri where he was rejected when the sickness got worse and was finally rushed to Salvation Hospital along MCC Road where he reportedly gave up the ghost before treatment could commence.
Trumpeta was reliably informed by a source close to the owner of the hospital that the deceased was sick while in Germany, came back for a burial and on the day of the burial, he felled down, was took to a hospital at Mbaise where he spent about 2 weeks there before going to FMC and was allegedly rejected after disclosing that he came back from abroad.
According to the source who pleaded anonymity,”he failed to inform them that FMC rejected him but was quick to inform them that he came from one of the hospitals in Mbaise. He refused to show them his lab result.”
“No medicine was given to him till when he died by Sunday morning. Now, the doctor, the nurse, and those that attended to him have been quarantined. “
“He has equally assisted the committee members by giving them all necessary information about the man from the Laboratory man in Mbaise to the Mbaise hospital and to his family. The Covid 19 state committee is now on the issue. The man in question, as I learnt is the Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Germany, “the source added.
Recall that in a bid to douse tension and calm the situation down, the Imo State Government has reemphasized that there is no confirmed case of the Coronavirus disease in the state.
Hon Declan M Emelumba, Commissioner for information and strategy who gave this clarification in a release made available to Trumpeta yesterday in Owerri said the clarification is necessary because of the rumour making the rounds that someone has died of the disease in the state.
The Information Commissioner said,”The true position is that an Imo son from Ahiazu Mbaise returned recently from South Africa. He visited a hotel in Umuguma in Owerri and also his village in Ahiazu Mbaise. He later flew back to Abuja where he was reported sick and admitted in a hospital. He is alive and is being tested for the virus. “
“For the reason that he failed to self-isolate as someone coming from abroad and as a precautionary measure, the Government ordered that the hotel be visited be sealed and all staff and guests quarantined for 14 days to observe them for symptoms”
“The State ministry of health has also moved to quarantine the village he visited and the villagers will be observed for 14 days also for symptoms”
“If anyone from either the hotel or the village is seen to have symptoms he or she will immediately be taken away for further analysis and tests to confirm whether the person has Coronavirus or not “
“Imo people will recall that the Governor promised in his broadcast on Saturday that everything humanly possible would be done to ensure the safety of our people. These measures are in line with that directive.”
“Be rest assured that government is on top of the situation and will do everything to keep Imo people safe.”
