Anthony Iwuoma
Palpable fear has gripped residents of Kano as three persons who tested positive for Coronavirus have fled the isolation centre.
Confirming the development on Monday, the Kano State Coordinator of Technical Response Team on COVID-19, Tijjani Hussaini, said the whereabouts of the three patients remained unknown, as they had also switched off their phones.
He added though that they were working with local leaders and security operatives to locate the runaway patients and return them to the isolation centre.
He said: “Out of 77 confirmed cases tested positive in Kano, we are yet to trace three persons, because they have changed (their) place(s) of residence and switched off their phones. But we have sought the assistance of security personnel to trace them and take appropriate action.”
In another development, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, on Monday, claimed that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 was neglecting the state in the war against further spread of the virus.
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“We are in a serious problem. I can tell you the situation is really bad and scary. Because what we solely rely upon in fighting the disease is the testing centre, ” the governor told Hausa service of BBC in an interview on Monday.
He added: “This laboratory suspended its operation five or six days ago. There is also a shortage of sample collection equipment. It is not a common equipment that you can go and buy in the market. Those whose samples were collected are still waiting to know their fate.”
However, Osagie Ehanire, the health minister, said on Sunday that the necessary materials had been sent to Kano and the testing centre set to begin operations.
