The National Incident Manager, Petroleum Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Dr Mukhtar Muhammad, has commended the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, for tackling the pandemic head-on right from the first index case in the state.
Mohammad, who stated this when he led the PTF delegation on a courtesy call on the state governor at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Saturday, said Rivers State had stood out amongst states in the country from the onset in the fight against the pandemic.
“Rivers State is one of the states that had been consistent in terms of testing. Many of the states that started testing have fallen back, and we see different projections. They will test this week, next week, they will go down, but Rivers has been very consistent in terms of testing.
“As of last week, Rivers has tested about 140,000 persons. You have diagnosed almost 7,000 cases of COVID-19, and the good thing is that over 92 per cent of those who were Covid-19 positive have all recovered from the illness.”
Muhammad explained that ahead of the planned resumption of international flights at the Port Harcourt International Airport, the PTF has to visit the state to ensure that all Covid-19 protocol measures were in place.
He enjoined the state government to arrange for a hotel that would be used as health facility and negotiate for rate that should be affordable for any passenger to pay.
“We need to identify a health facility which is a hotel, where people who do not comply with the protocol will be kept for a period of about eight days pending when they will be tested for Covid-19, and if they are negative, they will be allowed to go, but if they are positive, we will keep them in isolation facility.”
The PTF requested the state government to help beef up security at the airport and quarantine facility so that any person of concern do not escape and endanger the health of the public.
Citing the recent Health Protection Regulation Order signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, which empowers state government authorities and security agencies to arrest and prosecute people who violate the Covid-19 protocols, the PTF urged the governor to set up a tribunal that would handle cases of persons who jump quarantine.
“Covid-19 is something that we are all determined to work hard to limit the spread, and also the infection and ensure many people in our states receive vaccination and develop immune to resist the disease”, he added.
