Tag: Delta State

COVID-19: Panic In Delta State As Prices Of Foodstuffs, Others Skyrocket

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Deltans, engaged in panic of foodstuffs and other essential commodities ahead of tomorrow’s (today) total shutdown of the State as part of steps to contain the spread of the ravaging coronavirus pandemic in the State.

The State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa had on 26th March announced that the State would be completely lockdown to movement within or outside the State from April 1.

Our Correspondent reports people were seen at the Ogbogonogo, Midwifery markets, shopping malls and supermarkets buying foodstuffs and other items in large quantities apparently to stock their homes to avoid food shortage during the period of the lockdown.

Meanwhile, prices of commodities such as garri, onions, tomatoes, pepper, fish, rice, vegetable oil, red oil and other items had gone up with over 100 percent.

Our Correspondent, reports that a bucket of garri which being sold for N400 had risen N1800, bag of rice which was selling for N20,000 had gone up to N35,000, and 4 litre vegetable oil risen from N3,000 to N3,800.

Preventive materials like face mask which was selling for N150 had gone up to N600, and alcohol based hand sanitizer which was selling for N200 has jumped to N1000.

Our Correspondent however observed that hand washing facilities were placed at strategic points leading into the market for those going in and out to buy or sell to wash their hands.

Commercial banks which opened to customers from around 10 am to about 12 noon due to shut down of their systems from their headquarters, maintained social distancing rule as not more than 20 persons were allowed go in at a time.
Some of the Banks erected canopies and provided seats at their entrance for customers while they await their turn.

Covid-19: Delta State Tells FG To Shutdown All State Borders

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Delta State Government, has urged the Federal Government to close all inter State borders so as to effectively contain the spread of the ravaging coronavirus pandemic in the country.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu who stated this in Asaba while briefing newsmen on the State Government efforts to contain the spread or outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in the State, debunked rumour making the rounds of somebody suffering from coronavirus in Ekpan, near Warri.

He advised Deltans against spreading fake news about the pandemic, appealing to the people to always sanitize their hands, maintain social distancing order.

He added that the State Government has acquired 19 ventilators with four well-equipped isolation centers in Asaba, Warri, Oghara and 12 holding centres across the State.

He said the suspected case in Ekpan was swiftly moved to Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, by the Central Committee on COVID-19, where she was diagnosed and discovered that she was not suffering from coronavirus.

Aniagwu said: “This is very unfortunate; this is not the best time to begin to generate and spread outright falsehood on the COVID-19 Pandemic. We want to seize this opportunity to warn Deltans to desist from unfounded stories, which will do us no good.

“We discovered that certain individuals are behaving like they want COVID-19 to come here. The committee gave out dedicated numbers to call, in case of any information regarding the COVID-19 scourge.

“A case was reported at Ekpan in Uvwie local government area, and the Central Committee on COVID19 promptly responded with an ambulance, which later turned out not to be the true story as our quick response team went there and moved her to Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara where she was checked and later discharged as she was free of the virus.

“We have ambulances that would transfer people from one medical facility to another. Let us not take it that the moment you see an ambulance carrying somebody, it automatically means it is a COVID-19 patient.

“We need to make this clear to avoid issues that are not necessary and heightening tension or encourage panic situations.

“If there is any COVID-19 in the state, the committee will inform the public accordingly, is not a thing anybody will hide. As at this moment, there is no case of confirmed COVID-19 in the state.

“You need to be tested and certified to have contracted the virus for you to be said to be suffering from COVID-19, not just to go to town with it because someone has high temperature.

“We have to apply caution as the number has continued to increase by the hour. Good enough, federal government has shut down some high risk states. Unfortunately, a number of states have not seen a reason to shut down, which will become dangerous after the 14 days, and we have been able to curtail it, and threw our borders open.

“If for instance Anambra and Edo states are not shutting down, there may be people in Edo or Anambra that will come into our state, which will make our efforts futile.

“That is why we are suggesting that the federal government has to shut down all the states of the federation, whether there is a confirmed case or not in such states. Some people are making the mistake that it is big man’s sickness.

“The reason is because they go for checks regularly. We must all be very careful with our health, avoid social visits, and avoid collusion with the security agencies.

“As part of our preventive measure and remaining proactive, the COVID-19 technical committee in the state has been able to break into departments.

“So we have those in charge of case management, lab, those to run our isolation centers, which are Federal Medical Center, and Central Hospital, both in Asaba, Warri and Oghara. We can isolate and begin treatments in these areas.

“We also have holding centers in our zonal hospitals where those suspected cases are kept before being moved to the isolation centers after confirmation.

“Aside from Lagos we are the only state with ventilators, which are applied at point of intensive care unit, which no case in Nigeria has been applied to.

On the level of compliance and the relationship with Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers, vehicular movement has continued, he said,

“We will continue to deal with the loose ends and tighten them up. We have spoken with the security agencies to leave above board, avoid graft to allow movements”.