Rivers discharges second COVID-19 patient

Rivers state Friday achieved a zero COVID-19 case following the successful treatment and discharge of the second recorded patient in the state.

It would be recalled that the first index case, a 19-year-old female model, who came into the state from Abuja, after a trip to France and Greece, was discharged last week, after successfully undergoing treatment in the state.

The State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who disclosed this at a press conference at the Government House on Friday, however, said the state must be vigilant to prevent fresh cases.

He said, “The second case which was recorded and taken to the treatment centre has now tested negative and will be discharged this (Friday) morning, thanks to God for his mercy.”

The governor, while commending health officials and security operatives for the success in containing the coronavirus pandemic in the state, said all hands should continue to be on deck.

To this end, he announced a total lockdown of parts of the state capital, including areas where residential buildings and stores have been converted to markets because of the shutdown of market.

He said the state’s strict measures were yielding result but appealed to residents of the state to ensure that they obeyed the restriction in intra-state movement and closure of markets.

We did not want to record a case before we began our preparations, that was why were started by enlightening and preparing our people. We were the first state to lockdown of land, sea and air borders. We were victimized and targeted, but is what has limited our index cases.”

He noted that he took hard decisions in the interest of its people, appealed to residents not to endanger the successes recorded by being irresponsible, stressing that the disease is fatal while hunger is only temporal.

However, he said COVID-29 palliative committee of the state was constantly evolving ways to serve the people better, stressing that over 140,000 tubers of yam and garri among other foodstuffs have been acquired for distribution.

Already, he said the distribution train had reached several LGAs, including Emuoha, Port Harcourt, assuring that all citizens would be served irrespective of political, ethnic or religious considerations.