The Government of Cross River State has insisted that it has no active case of COVID-19 within its borders, contrary to the position of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
This position was announced by the Chairman of the state COVID-19 task force, Dr. Betta Edu in reaction to the NCDC’s assertion that no state is free of the virus in Nigeria.
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The Director General, Dr. Chike Ihekweazu said states can only be declared COVID-19 free when adequate testing is being done.
The state government of Cross River however kicked against the statement in a press release saying there are no confirmed cases in the state.
“While we do not have a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the state, everyone must play their part in keeping safe.
“Remember that soon, the entire country will be opened and people from states considered as the epicentres will come into the state and go out at will, so, we must imbibe the right culture on time,” she said.
She said further that residents in the state should become more vigilant because Nigeria is currently at the peak of the pandemic.
“Sometimes, we see people in joints hanging out with friends, attending burials, parties, going to places of worship where safety is ignored on the grounds of religion, when asked, they say there is no coronavirus in Cross River.
“This wrong mindset that must be trashed immediately, even when Nigeria had just five confirmed cases measures were spelt out and followed. If anything, the situation has gone worse.”
She insisted that residents in the state should be responsible for their personal safety as well as that of others around them.
She concluded by asking residents to report any suspected case of COVID-19 in the state to the task force.