The Bayelsa State Committee on COVID-19 has recorded one confirmed case among the 229 cases announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the state to 12.
The co-Chairman of the Bayelsa State Taskforce on COVID-19, Dr Nathaniel Inodu, made the disclosure in a statement in Yenogoa on Tuesday.
“This case is a 48-year-old business woman, who resides in the heart of Yenagoa.
“She visited one of our hospitals with complaints of fever, cough, lack of taste and malaria that started three weeks ago.
“Although she was feeling a lot better, she said she came to request for COVID-19 test.
“The state’s rapid response team investigated her case and collected samples for testing even though she denied any travel history.
“She is not epidemiologically linked to any previous confirmed case in the state. She has since been evacuated for further treatment at one of our isolation centres.
“She is clinically stable and currently receiving optimal medical care.
“So far, she has been our most cooperative COVID-19 patient, volunteering information about her contacts effortlessly.
“All her contacts are being line-listed and adequately followed up, including necessary environmental decontamination.
“Samples have and are still being collected from their high-risk contacts, while they have all been counseled on self-quarantine, risk communication and community engagements are ongoing.
“All other cases in admission at our isolation wards are in stable clinical condition. A repeat test is scheduled for case 8, a businesswoman in her thirties tomorrow. She has been symptom-free since admission.
“The state government’s quarantine facility has since been admitting contacts, who are unable to self-quarantine. They have been cooperative while enjoying the luxury provided at this centre,” he said.
Inodu said the state’s public emergency operations centre (the COVID -19 Situation Room/War Room and the COVID-19 Task Force were doing their best to contain and mitigate the impact of pandemic.
“Our surveillance is gathering momentum by the day and we are testing more cases daily.
“We now use the UPTH Port Harcourt Reference COVID -19 laboratory.
“In the past weeks, we have been sending an average of 25 samples daily to this facility. Most of these samples are contacts of confirmed cases.
“Let me seize this opportunity to again congratulate Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa for a successful 100 days in office, particularly for his exemplary commitment to fighting the outbreak of this pandemic in the state.
“I also want to express my sincere appreciation to all healthcare workers, particularly the front liners, who have been tireless in their commitment to the COVID-19 response in the state,” he said.
