Yesterday, The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported that Abia state recorded 67 new cases of Coronavirus infection, the highest the state has ever recorded in a single day since the outbreak in the country.
Among the new infected person is the governor of the state, Okezie Ikpeazu as confirmed in a statement released by the state’s commissioner of information, John Okiyi Kalu.
According to the statement released on Monday, June 8, the Governor had already gone into self-isolation before his test result came back positive and has directed the deputy governor, Rt Hon Ude Oko Chukwu to take charge for the mean time.
The statement read;
”Recall that on Saturday, 30th May, 2020, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu volunteered his sample for COVID-19 test and subsequently directed members of the state Executive Council (EXCO) and those of the inter ministerial committee on COVID-19 to submit themselves for the same test. On Tuesday, 2nd June, 2020. The result of Governor Ikpeazu’s test returned negative.
”On Thursday, 4th June, 2020, the Governor submitted another sample at NCDC laboratory for confirmation and the result returned positive.
”As a result, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has gone into isolation, as required by relevant NCDC protocols, and he is being managed by a competent team of medical practitioners with a view to nursing him back to good health.
”Consequent on the above, the Governor has directed his Deputy, Rt Hon Ude Oko Chukwu, to act on his behalf pending his full resumption of duties.
”We wish to urge all Abians to take the fight against COVID-19 serious as the disease is real but not a death sentence. Our state has the resources to manage patients back to good health.”
Meanwhile, Governor Ikpeazu had recently stated that Coronavirus will not get to Abia because it is the only Nigerian state mentioned in the Bible. Ikpeazu is now the fourth Governor to test positive for Coronavirus in Nigeria.
