COVID-19: FG Did Not Stop International Flights On Time – Okowa

Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta state, on Wednesday, says the Federal Government could have ban international flights from coming into the country earlier than it did as part of measures to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic.

He spoke after inspecting facilities at the Isolation and Treatment Centre being prepared for the pandemic at the Central Hospital, Asaba, the state capital.

“We are preparing; we don’t have to wait till we have a case. We thank the Federal Government for stopping international flights and closing the land borders; that is one good thing we have done, but I think we should have done that earlier than we did.

“However, we thank them for this action which will now enable us to manage those persons in the country who are already exposed to the virus and manage the transmission chain in such a manner that we are able to reduce the numbers and that’s exactly what we are trying to do here in Delta”, he said.

Speaking on the preventive measures being put in place by the state government, Governor Okowa said, “we have gone through the Isolation Centre and the Holding Rooms and you can see that the centre is fully ready. Other facilities to ensure that the health staff are safe have also been fully installed.

“We have ventilators in place and more will be installed within the week. The important thing is ensuring the comfort of the patient but also ensuring that the health staff members are safe. We have proper changing rooms, with personal protective wears also in place.

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“We now have two centres in Asaba alone; you will recall that a week ago I inspected the purpose-built Isolation Center at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, built by the Delta State Government.

“Beyond these two centres that are ready, we are also establishing another one at the Teaching Hospital in Oghara. The Medical Director has made necessary arrangements for a secluded part of the hospital. They already have their Dialysis machines and we have also released funds for the quality of water needed for the machines.

“We are also establishing a centre in Warri. By tomorrow (Thursday), all works that need to be done to put the ward in good shape would have been completed and the necessary equipment will be deployed for the purpose of being able to attend to would-be patients if and in case we have the Coronavirus in the state”, he added.