TheCable

The index coronavirus patients in Edo and Ondo states have been discharged.

In Ondo, the patient who is a soldier had tested positive for the disease on April 3. Rotimi Akeredolu, the governor, said the patient was discharged after testing negative twice.

“I received the cheery news last Friday, April 17th 2020, from our honourable commissioner for health and chairman Inter-ministerial Committee on #COVID19, that our first and index case of coronavirus infection in the state has tested negative twice after treatment,” he told reporters.

“What this means is that the first patient of the viral infection is now completely healed and free to go home, indeed free to resume his normal life in service to our country.

“It is important to inform us all that upon presenting with the symptoms of the infection while in quarantine, the first sample from this army officer was taken at the Nigerian army barracks, Akure on the 2nd of April 2020 and sent for test to ascertain his status.

“The result came out positive on 3rd of April and he was immediately admitted into the infectious disease hospital (IDH) at Igbatoro road Akure. He was on admission in the hospital where he received the very best care until we noticed an improvement in his health.

“Due to the two consecutive negative results and his stable clinical condition, the patient was hereby declared fit for discharge. This is in line with the standard COVID -19 patient discharge criteria.”

Akeredolu also announced that 22 people who had close contact with the patient have also tested negative to the virus.

In Edo, Godwin Obaseki, the governor, said although the discharged patient is the person who brought the disease to the state, he is the seventh to recover in Edo.

He said with the development, Edo has now recorded 50 percent recovery rate for admitted patients being managed in facilities across the state.

“Good people of Edo, another COVID-19 patient, who is the index case in Edo State, has tested negative for the second time consecutively. He has now been discharged to reunite with his family,” he said.

“This brings to seven the number of patients successfully managed and discharged from our isolation facilities. We have now recorded 50 percent recovery rate for patients being managed in our facilities.”