COVID-19: Akwa Ibom govt begins random testing

- The Akwa Ibom state government has concluded plans to begin mass testing for coronavirus in the state

- This was disclosed by the chairman COVID-19 committee and secretary to the state government Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem

The state official said voluntary aggressive testing has become imperative in Akwa Ibom

The Akwa Ibom state government has concluded modalities to embark on mass testing of its citizens for coronavirus.

The decision is due to the spike in the number of confirmed cases in the state in recent times. As at Sunday, April 19, Akwa Ibom state had recorded 8 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Addressing newsmen on the same day, the chairman COVID-19 committee and secretary to the state government Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem noted that voluntary aggressive testing has become imperative in Akwa Ibom.

According to him, without ascertaining the level to which the masses have been impacted by the coronavirus, it would not be possible to relax the lockdown, which he said has just been extended by one week.

The committee chairman recalled that right from when the first case of COVID-19 was reported in the state, the committee has been embarking on serious contact tracing which he said has helped forestall community transmission.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the total lockdown in Akwa Ibom state remains in place as earlier proclaimed and defaulters will only have themselves to blame if caught by the law enforcement agencies deployed around the state to enforce the lockdown order.

“As a leader, who feels for the people, Governor Emmanuel, approved that palliatives be distributed across the state. This he has done to lessen the hardship being experienced by the people of Akwa Ibom, whose socio-economic lives have been disturbed as a result of the lockdown.

So far, flour, garri, and rice, all produced within the borders of Akwa Ibom state, have been distributed in about 3,000 villages. Beans were also distributed to the poorest of the poorest amongst us.

“In as much as government is eager to lift the lockdown order and allow life to return to normal, it will not do so if that will jeopardize even the life of one Akwa Ibom person. For, to endanger the life of one is to endanger the lives of all,” the committee chairman said.

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Recall that Akwa Ibom people from across the 31 local government areas recently took delivery of trucks of food items sent by Governor Udom Emmanuel to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown in the state.

Governor Emmanuel had earlier assured Akwa Ibomites that his government was going to provide food items to the vulnerable across the state.

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Source: Legit.ng