No fewer than 187 health workers and 15 National Youth Service Corps members have tested positive for COVID-19 in Enugu.
The commissioner for Health, Dr. Ikechukwu Obi, who disclosed this on Thursday at a press briefing in Enugu, said the 15 corps members are part of the Batch B stream I, who are currently at the orientation camp in Awgu.
He said that the state has recorded a total of 9,591 cases since the outbreak of the disease earlier in the year.
According to the commissioner, 7,489 cases have been treated and discharged, while 30 cases are active, including the 15 corps members.He added that 21 COVID-19 related deaths have also been recorded in the state.
While warning residents of the state that the pandemic is still very much around, he advised people to take advantage of the sample collection centres in the 17 local government areas of the state.
Obi said though the pandemic had hit the state by surprise with the initial two confirmed cases, the state government had lived up to its responsibilities in the provision of test kits, protective materials and drugs.
“We have received support from some Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs); World Health Organisation; Red Cross among others. We now have a testing centre at the UNTH, Enugu.
“We have a private hospital that is also testing and we are in the process of reviewing how many more can be tested. There is a full-fledged general hospital at Igboano in Nsukka among others.
“The state government had put in place machineries to monitor those who would be entering the state during this year’s festive period such as the yuletide and new year celebrations,” he said.
Obi, however, stressed that response teams have been activated in all the 17 local government councils of the state for this purpose.
“We are urging our people to be responsible and to take responsibility; this is not a time to be careless, protect yourself and protect others,” Obi advised.
