The Rivers state government on Tuesday announced that the index case of the novel Coronavirus pandemic in the state, has tested negative and discharged from the state treatment centre.
The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Chike Chikere, announced this in Port Harcourt the state capital while briefing newsmen on the latest case in the state.
The first case, a 19-year-old lady, a Model reportedly travelled to Italy, Greece and Brazil for her job before returning to the state, where she became symptomatic and was promptly quarantined for treatment, while her 105 contacts were traced and placed under monitoring for further development.
However, a 62-year-old male retiree who reportedly returned from the United Kingdom has replaced the young female model in the treatment centre as he tested positive to the Virus as announced by the National Centre for Disease Control(NCDC), in Abuja Monday night.
Six new cases of COVID-19 was announced in the country, Monday, Rivers state was among the States the new cases were recorded.
The state Commissioner for Health, said the second case has been taken to the treatment centre for management while those he had contact with are already being traced for the needful.
He said, “our first case was diagnosed on March 25, 2020, the young Lady is doing very well and now has two COVID negative PCR results. She will be discharged home Tuesday to reunite with her family.
“The remaining 15 of her 105 lines listed, will exit our surveillance system by Thursday, God willing.
”However, of the six new results announced by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control(NCDC), Rivers state recorded a new case. A 62-year-old retiree, who spent about a most nth in the United Kingdom and returned to Nigeria through Lagos International Airport on March 20, 2020, he eventually came back to his home in Port Harcourt the next day through Aero contractors flight on March 21, 2020.
“He, however, has been in self-isolation under the state surveillance system in his family house and developed flu symptoms on March 25, 2020.
“The rapid respond team collected samples from him and the test results are positive for COVID-19 and has been moved to the state treatment centre and presently receiving prompt and adequate treatment in line with the establishes treatment guidelines for his general condition.”
The commissioner further stated that contact tracing has already commenced and samples being collected from high-risk contacts for RT-PCR analysis. He added that risk communication and community engagement will continue unabated.