Health minister reacts to claims by Benue’s COVID-19 index case that she is being wrongly detained (Video)

The Federal Government on Tuesday denied claims by a positive COVID-19 disease case, Susan Okpe that she was being wrongly detained by government.

It would be recalled that the woman, Okpe, who came into the country from the United Kingdom for a burial in Benue State, tested positive for the virus and was admitted at an isolation centre in Markurdi before she was transferred to Abuja after an altercation with authorities at the centre.

She however appeared in a video that went viral on social media, claiming that she was being detained by government and that she does not have the virus.

Read also: COVID-19: Abia govt makes wearing of face masks compulsory for residents, visitors

Ehanire, while addressing her claims, noted that all necessary steps were taken to ascertain the status of the woman, when she returned from abroad.

He said: “This is a person who came from abroad and headed for Benue but felt unwell, taken to a hospital and tested positive and placed in isolation. People who are infected can have no symptoms, mild or severe symptoms. Even without symptoms, they can be infectious. This person soon recovered and decided to doubt the test she had undergone.

“Apparently, there was an altercation that made the people there to call me and I intervened and spoke with the person. She was disputing the result because she felt very well and showed no symptom.

“The first complaint was that she was not comfortable with the place where she was kept so we arranged for a transfer to a more comfortable facility and requested a second test which came out positive. We are planning a third test.”

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