Coronavirus has spread to Ibadan the Oyo state capital as the largest city in West Africa has recorded its first case of the disease which tested positive yesterday.
This was confirmed in a series of tweets by the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde.
According to the Governor, the suspected case of Covid-19 at Bodija, Ibadan returned positive at 5:30pm on Saturday.
He said further that Oyo state health officials are collaborating with an elite team from the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan to handle the case.
Makinde said that a follow up on the Ekiti COVID-19 case revealed that the deceased was picked up directly from Lagos Airport to a private apartment in Ona Ara Local Government Area in Oyo state.
He stated that health authorities have already contacted the family concerned while the community has been alerted in order to help with contact tracing and self-isolation of already identified close contacts of the deceased.
Makinde debunked rumours that the deceased stayed in several hotels in Ibadan, saying the news was false.
He however informed the people of Oyo further that a returnee from Texas had been identified at Oluyole local government area of the state and has been kept in self-isolation under the supervision of Oyo State Epidemiological team.
The governor urged everyone resident in Oyo who have just returned from abroad to identify themselves to health ministry officials and self isolate for 14 days.
Seyi Makinde took the opportunity to highlight some of the steps being taken by his government to nip the situation in the bud. He said;
“We have released funds for:
a. Activation of Emergency Operation Centre at the Ministry of Health.
b. Establishment of Diagnostic Centre for screening of Coronavirus and other related infectious diseases to be stationed at the UCH, Ibadan.
c. Equipping of the newly designated Oyo State Infectious Disease Centre at Olodo that has the capacity for over 100 cases.”
The Governor concluded by providing emergency numbers for the Oyo State Ministry of Health: 08038210122/ 08023229267/ 08073431342.