REVEALED: How Delta Recorded First COVID-19 Death 48hrs After Index Case

Details have emerged on how Delta state recorded a coronavirus death barely 48 hours after its first index case was reported by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Tuesday night.

It was gathered that the deceased had visited Lagos, the epicenter of the deadly virus the past two weeks before he was checked into a private clinic where he spent days on admission after being symptomatic to the infection.

Sources privy to the development revealed that while on self-treatment at the clinic, he reportedly developed complication and was reported to officials who subsequently transferred him to State isolation centre at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara where he eventually died.

BIGPEN understands that the patient, as was confirmed by the state government Thursday night, had developed severe coronavirus symptoms before he was moved to the state facility for adequate attention.

It was learnt that while the state government had its first confirmed index case which was announced by the NCDC on Tuesday night, that of the second case could not be confirmed ostensibly because his test result was not ready at that time from Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo state where NCDC’s only laboratory for COVID-19 testing for the south-south is located.

A source disclosed that the state government was awaiting the test result before it could announced the case when the deceased passed away.

Delta Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa who confirmed the death via his official Twitter handle @IAOkowa late Thursday, said that the patient died before his test result came back positive.

Announcing the case, the Governor said, “I have just been informed of another case of #COVID19 in Delta state. The individual in question had underlying health issues and had visited Lagos state in the past two weeks.

“The patient presented himself late to one of our hospitals with severe symptoms including difficulty in breathing and was given the necessary attention by healthcare professionals.

“Shortly after the specimen was taken, he passed away. However, his test results came back positive today (Thursday).

“In order to mitigate against the spread of the virus, we are fast-tracking our contact tracing to ensure that all those that came in contact with the deceased patient are properly isolated and tested immediately.

“Again, it is important that as we work to protect the citizens and residents of our state, families and friends of individuals that are exhibiting the primary symptoms of the #COVID19 virus, do not keep it from the authorities.

“If you see something; say something. I will continue to keep you all informed of any new developments”, Gov Okowa tweeted.

Meanwhile, the second case of coronavirus in the state who unfortunately, passed away before he could be properly treated at the isolation centre, is said to be a popular pastor who based in the oil-city of Warri.

According to a report by Niger Delta Today, an online media, the deceased, a 57-year-old man has a church in a popular area of the metropolis and had last preached at his church over two weeks ago. The report says the pastor was hospitalized in a private clinic in Warri within the period before he was transferred to the teaching hospital where he died of COVID-19.