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Anambra govt reacts to claims of disappearance of first COVID-19 patient

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The Willie Obiano government of Anambra State has reacted to rumours making the round that the first person to test positive to COVID-19 in the state had disappeared.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Friday announced that a patient in Anambra State had tested positive to the novel coronavirus. But during the weekend, reports in some quarters claimed that the COVID-19 index case in the state had disappeared.

However, responding in a statement on Sunday, the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba debunked the claim and warned that the state will not tolerate any controversy over the index case.

He explained that the state COVID-19 index case was in one of the isolation centres in the state.

“The state has noted with dismay the sudden appearance of propaganda materials against the person purported to be the state’s coronavirus index case.

“The materials, including social media broadcasts, began to emerge within 24 hours after the state recorded its index case on Friday, April 10.

“The materials are slanderous and violate all known medical ethics. They were obviously made by persons who want to raise a false alarm and create panic everywhere.

“The state government has not revealed the name of the index case, nor have the hospital authorities where he is receiving treatment now or has been treated in recent times.

“Therefore, the identity revealed on the social media broadcasts are merely speculative.

“No COVID-19 patient anywhere has received the kind of attention given to Anambra’s index case. Yet, there are about 300 confirmed COVID-19 patients in Nigeria alone,” the statement read.

Nigeria, according to the report by NCDC on Sunday night, has 323 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of that number, 85 had been treated and discharged while 10 deaths had been recorded.

READ ALSO: ‘Tell Nigerian govt to let me go,’ Scandal breaks out over Benue COVID-19 index case (Video)

Currently, Lagos has 176 cases, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja – 56, Osun – 20, Edo – 12, Oyo – 11, Ogun – seven, Bauchi – six, Kaduna – six, Akwa Ibom – five, Katsina – five, Delta – three, Enugu – two, Ekiti – two, Rivers – two, Kwara – four, Ondo – two, Benue – one, Niger – one, Anambra – one and Kano – one.

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