One COVID-19 Patient At Large In Delta After Relatives Invade Isolation Centre

A COVID-19 patient has reportedly escaped from an isolation centre in Delta state.

The patient was ferried out of the centre in Asaba, the state capital by his relatives who reportedly invaded the centre and took him away around 6:pm on Monday, June 1, 2020.

Confirming the development on Tuesday while meeting with members of the Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF), at the forum’s office in Asaba, the state Commissioner of Information, Charles Aniagwu, disclosed that the COVID-19 patient mobilized his relations to storm and removed him forcefully from the isolation centre.

He said that the patient is currently at large, urging everyone who knew him to avoid being infected by the deadly virus.

The state Commissioner for health, Dr. Mordi Ononye, in an earlier statement said that the patient, Michael Nwachukwu Mordi, is a 53-year-old chief nursing officer in central hospital, Agbor.

He said that the patient tested positive to COVID-19 on May 23, 2020 and was admitted into the COVID-19 treatment centre, Federal Medical Center, Asaba on May 24, 2020.

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The commissioner said that since the admission, the patient had been very aggressive and continually threatened the caregivers and also rejected his medications.

According to him, on Monday, June 1, 2020, against all medical advice, Mr. Michael Nwachukwu Mordi, obviously consenting, was forcefully removed from the treatment centre by seven men who claimed to be his relatives and they did not wear any protective coverings.

Dr. Ononye stated that the men therefore, constitute danger to their own health and that of populations and communities with which they come in contact.

The statement strongly advised that the said patient be returned to the treatment center for proper care and that those who have already been exposed to him should immediately go into supervised self-quarantine for the next 14 days.

Dr. Ononye reiterated that the COVID-19 pandemic is real and enjoined the general public to continue to observe all published preventive protocols such as frequent handwashing with soap and water, use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer and use of face masks in public places.

Meanwhile, speaking at the meeting with the publishers, Aniagwu appealed to Deltans to follow the health protocols prescribed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC0 and the government as part of strategies to combat the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

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According to him as at the early hours of Tuesday, the confirmed cases in Delta have risen to 88 with 63 being active cases, 17 recoveries and 8 deaths recorded.

He commended members of the Delta Online Publishers Forum for publicizing the activities of the state government, saying the governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, is happy with what members of the forum are doing for the state.

Charles Aniagwu, who was accompanied by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Olisa Ifeajika, Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media, Nelson Egware and two others for the interaction, said Governor Okowa is focused on building a lasting legacy for the people of Delta, urging media practitioners and all Deltans to key into all programmes of the governor.