One month after the Index case of Coronavirus in Benue, the state government has confirmed a second case of COVID – 19 in the state.
State Governor, Samuel Ortom who confirmed the incident while speaking to newsmen at Government house, Makurdi on Tuesday, disclosed that the second victim to contract the virus in the state is Edward Manger.
Governor Ortom explained that the second victim, Manger, an officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and resident in Kano state has since been confirmed positive by the National Center for Disease and Control (NCDC)
According to Ortom, the victim arrived the state at the tail end of April and his blood sample was taken as soon as he began to manifest the symptoms.
He noted that the state got the confirmation from the NCDC on Monday night, just as the victim has been taken into isolation.
The Governor, who was in a sober mood, said, “It is with a heavy heart that I announce today again, another COVID – 19 case in Benue state.
“This young man came to Benue state towards the end of April and our Action Committee got wind of where he came from and swooped into action and it has been discovered just yesterday, Monday, (that he was positive), after sample were earlier taken to Abuja, the NCDC, confirmed him positive.
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“He is Edward Manger, he works with NDLEA and was stationed in Kano. It is unfortunate, but he is cooperating with us; we have isolated him and also made contact with his immediate family members.
Ortom who noted that announcing the identity of a COVID-19 case is to enhance the tracking of those who might have come in contact with the patient said “When we mention names, we are not doing so to ridicule the person; we have continually said there is no reason to stigmatise anyone with COVID – 19.
“When we mention people’s names it’s for the interest of the society, so that anybody who has made contact with him towards the end of April up to yesterday (Monday), it will be in your own interest to come forward,” he argued.
Gov. Ortom said the State Action Committee on COVID-19 would meet on Wednesday to review the partial lockdown and as well take further preventive measures against the spread of the pandemic.
He assured Benue people that nobody who has tested positive for the deadly Coronavirus, will be abandoned pledging that such persons would be assisted to access treatment.
The Governor urged residents of the state to stay at home if they were not on essential services, stressing that it was the safest way to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Ortom reiterated that the partial lockdown in the state is still in force, adding that the ban on public gatherings still subsists even as the dusk to dawn curfew was still in force.
