Akwa Ibom govt rejects 5 positive COVID-19 test results, demands second round of tests

The Akwa Ibom State Government Thursday demanded a reconfirmation test on the five persons that had reportedly tested positive for coronavirus in the state.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had on Wednesday evening announced 23 fresh cases of coronavirus in Nigeria with five coming from Akwa Ibom.

However, the state government had claimed there were irregularities in the NCDC testing and reporting procedure.

The state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, told journalists shortly after a meeting with the state Incident Management Committee at the Government House, Uyo, that the government only heard about the test results in the news.

According to him, neither Governor Udom Emmanuel nor the Director-General of NCDC was aware of the results announcement.

The commissioner said the coronavirus cases have been contacted and none of them has shown symptoms of the disease.

The statement read: “Sequel to the news report about the positive testing of five hitherto suspected cases of COVID -19 in Akwa Ibom State, we wish to state as follows, that;

“We observed a disturbing breach in the test and reporting procedure. Every result released in the country has some procedures. But this one did not follow the established process

” The lab supposed to send the results to the governor first, not to the NCDC, Akwa Ibom State Government only heard about the test results in the news.

“The Director General of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) was not aware of the reported result announcement, therefore we have to do the test again.

“All 5 reported positive test cases have been contacted and they have showed no COVID-19 symptoms.

“While the tests were being processed in NCDC approved test facilities, all suspected cases were held in isolation.

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” Several sample batches have been previously sent for testing from Akwa Ibom State and they all returned negative results.

“Owing to the irregularities observed in the testing and reporting procedure, Health Care Professionals in Akwa Ibom State have called for an immediate reconfirmation test on the 5 reported cases.

“The results will be made public; following due process.

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