TheCable

Daniel Umezurike, commissioner for health in Ebonyi state, says all the 74 suspected COVID-19 cases in the state tested negative for the disease.

Umezurike spoke on Thursday while briefing reporters on the state government’s response to the pandemic.

He said the state had tested more than 50 samples from other states, but did not report their results.

“A total of 119 suspected cases have been admitted at various times and all tested negative to COVID-19, but were treated for other ailments and discharged,” he said.

“We have selected six general hospitals to serve as observation centres; two in each senatorial zone of the state in our response protocol.”

He disclosed that the state was the fourth after Lagos, Edo and the federal capital territory to be activated to effectively confirm COVID-19 cases.

“This was made possible because the state governor constructed and equipped an ultra modern virology centre in 2016,” he added.

“The equipment and other facilities at the centre were like a springboard for the laboratory to be upgraded to confirm diagnosis of the virus.

“This is because we already have Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines and other equipment as we are supported by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) which provided test kits.”

He noted that between March 17 and April 15, 2020, a total of 611 people coming into the state were screened at the Pa Ngele Oruta stadium, Abakaliki, the state capital.