Okowa Speaks On Delta Index Case, Says Case Came In Prior To Lockdown

Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State Governor, on Wednesday spoke on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) index case confirmed in the State by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) late Tuesday.

BIGPEN reports that the governor spoke on the backdrop of speculations that a lawmaker at the state Assembly, Prince Eric Oharisi was the index case. Oharisi has personally debunked the rumour saying he never tested positive to the virus.

In a state broadcast Wednesday morning, Okowa said that the index case has been in the State for weeks before the lockdown.

The Governor said it is not true that the member of the House of Assembly of Delta State has contracted the infection.

Governor Okowa said, “That is not true. (referring to rumour of Oharisi being the index case) But that does not actually mean that anybody in government cannot contract the infection.

“The person in question has been in Delta State for some weeks. So, he did not just come in from another State during the course of the lockdown. At the moment, we are doing our tracking. We are getting more information on the incident case, and when we have more information, we would be able to communicate to the State.

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“It is only the right of that person to publicly tell us [his name]. It is not for me to release the name. It is for me to pass information that needs to be passed to Deltans. But the person did not come from another State. He has been within the State in the last few weeks.

“There have been a lot of insinuations concerning the fact that a member of the House of Assembly of Delta State has contracted this infection. That is not true. But that does not actually mean that anybody in government cannot contract the infection.

“Everybody is careful. Everybody has to be in the rule. But it is important that things are put right. No member of the House of Assembly has contracted COVID-19. But whosoever that contracts it, it is not a death sentence neither should any of such persons be stigmatised in any form. All we owe such persons is to pray for them,” Okowa said.