A statement issued on Friday in Kaduna by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye, said that most of the recent cases of COVID-19 in the state had travel history.
According to him, the illegal travels have increased the danger of community transmission, as infections have “now been recorded in some mainly rural local governments on the borders of the state.”
“The Standing Committee on COVID-19 appeals for vigilance and active involvement of all citizens in the effort to avert this peril.”
He said that the state COVID-19 taskforce has confirmed seven new cases on Thursday, as such the “State now has 82 active cases, having discharged 10 patients and recorded one fatality.
“The latest cases include four persons with travel history outside the state, a senior citizen who received many visitors at home and two persons in the police barracks who are contacts of one of the policemen who tested positive.”
According to Mr Adekeye, positive Covid-19 test results have been recorded from Giwa, Igabi, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Makarfi, Soba and Zaria local government areas.
The governor’s spokesman said that the sacrifices being made by most residents “are being jeopardised by the actions of persons who violate the quarantine orders, and the misconduct of some law enforcement officers that have facilitated and indulged this grossly irresponsible pattern of interstate travel.
“The state government continues to engage the leadership of the concerned agencies on these dangerous lapses, given its consistent support for the security agencies posted to the state.”
The Special Adviser pointed out that Kaduna state’s health system could be easily overwhelmed if community transmission occurs, as the situation in neighbouring states had shown.
He said that government was compelled to block many of the entry points and deploy its senior officials to personally man the borders.
“The Standing Committee appeals to the vast majority of law abiding citizens to continue to expose and report persons engaged in interstate travel or who sneak into their communities.
“All citizens should please consistently exercise the personal responsibility and compliance with health protocols that have been outlined to help beat COVID-19,’’ he added.
NAN
