*Fears Community Transmission, Imposes Wearing face Mask in Adamawa
By Austin Ajayi, Yola
The Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has expressed fear of community transmission of Covid19 in the state, following the confirmation of a second index case in Adamawa.
The governor disclosed this in a state wide broadcast to the citizens on the virus in Adamawa, he said “i regret to announce another positive case of COVID-19 which sum up to two positive cases in the state”.
According to the governor ” It is a devastating update that out of the 8 samples we have pending at the NCDC Referral Lab in Abuja, 1 turned out positive, 6 are negative while we are still expecting one”
With this, I regret to announce that we now have 2 COVID-19 Confirmed Cases in Adamawa State” he said
.He further explained that what is striking about this case, is the fact that it is not linked to the first index case.
‘ Last week, we sent 8 samples to Abuja. 5 were direct contacts of the index case as traced; while 3 were new suspicious cases who were showing symptoms.
With the second case in Adamawa, gives us great concern particularly when it has to with a medical personnel in one of the hospital in Mubi town.
“More disturbing is the fact that the victim is a Medical Doctor in one of our hospitals in Mubi, who must have had contact with many people in the course of discharging his duties lawfully ‘
According to the governor, the current development has indeed places the government in a herculean task of contact tracing which is not only tedious but strenuous.
“While the contact tracing is no doubt daunting, more scaring is the fact that we may be sliding into the most dangerous phase of the pandemic, which is Community transmission of the virus”
” It is on note that our Index Case is a returnee from Kano; and therefore we are certain of how the disease was couriered into the State.
But when the case is a doctor, resident in a public hospital with access to colleagues and countless patients, the level of Community Infection can best be imaginedӈ
He appealed to citizens to be caution ensured the need to stay safe and adhere to the pandemic’s prevention and management etiquette – Stay at home;.
” if you must go out, wear your mouth and nose mask; uphold personal and environmental hygiene; avoid overcrowding; maintain social and physical distancing; be vigilant and raise alarm whenever you notice any symptom on a neighbor, a family member or yourself. ”
“This will go a long way in early detection and possible isolation, where necessary. At this point I hereby declare that the wearing of mouth and nose mask is compulsory for all citizens.
He said the government have provided Disease Surveillance Officers in all the Communities to serve the people and help in detecting cases.
” At this point in time, what is required is care not fear. Hope not despair. COVID-19 is no doubt real but not big enough to defeat us all.
“We must collectively, develop a mindset that inspires. Understanding that it is a disease that knows no boundary and protecting any suspicious or confirmed case against stigmatization, marks a fundamental community triumph over the disease” Fintiri warned.
He said the first index case is in stable condition and the Case Management Team is attending to him and he is recuperating very fast.
