Shutdown begins in Abia as Ebonyi virology centre commences tests

The two weeks shutdown imposed by Abia State Government as a result of the coronavirus pandemic commenced with an appreciable level of compliance by residents of the state.

Only essential services critical to daily livelihoods were allowed, while non- essential movements were restricted.

Commercial vehicles conveying food items into the state were welcome, while food sellers sold from their home fronts if they provided water and soap for hand washing and also wore facemasks.

Bank services were available, but banks officials were compelled to provide water and soap for hand washing, while customers were made to queue, observe the 1.5m social distancing and wear facemasks.

Thenewexperiencenewspaper sighted task force teams enforcing the directive, while ambulances were stationed to do the needful like the state Tele Health Response equipped to receive telephone calls from those in need of medical attention and attend to them using its link to the 722 primary health centres in the state’s 17 council areas.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in a statewide broadcast noted that although the coronavirus has not spread to the state, government was prepared to protect the people.

Also, Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, yesterday disclosed that the state’s Virology Centre has commenced testing for the coronavirus pandemic, saying eight suspected cases were examined at a lab, which all tested negative and would be discharged accordingly.

Governor Umahi stated this during a broadcast on government’s programme to curtail the spread of coronavirus, adding that holding and observation centres have been established in six locations across the state.

He explained that the Centre was built for Lassa fever and upgraded to a COVID-19 testing centre with Federal Government’s support through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

He noted that the facility was the seventh Coronavirus Testing Centre in the country and that it would serve the South East and South-South regions.

“With the assistance of the Federal Government, reagents have been configured to fit into the screening machines owned by the state government. With the three treatment and isolation centres and check points at various borders, the state is ready to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” he stated.