COVID-19: NCDC Confirms Plateau Index Case as Lalong Calls for Calm

By Our Reporter

The National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on Thursday night, confirmed first index case in Plateau State as the governor, Rt Hon Simon Bako Lalong called for calm.

According to the Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ninkong Lar Ndam, the COVID-19 test was conducted on one suspected person that came into Jos from Kano on 17th April 2020 and has been on quarantine since arrival.

In a press release signed and issued by the Commissioner on Thursday night, he said that “Upon exhibiting symptoms, nasal and oropharyngeal swab was taken and sent to NVRI Vom Laboratory for COVID-19 testing.

“Sadly, the result which was released on Thursday, 23rd April 2020 returned positive thereby making the patient the State index case.”

He noted that the patient has since been isolated and is stable and in good medical condition.

Ninkong added that the state surveillance team are currently tracing contacts that the index case might have come in contact with.

“The State Surveillance Team has immediately commenced contact tracing to investigate the case further and institute other Public Health measures to curb the spread of the disease in the State.
Governor Simon Lalong has implored the public not to panic, but to continue to imbibe good personal and respiratory hygiene, social distancing and avoid crowded places as well as stay at home.”

The Commissioner called on the citizens to be vigilant and report any suspicious case while assisting the Government to enforce the border closure directive which is one of the key steps adopted in curbing the disease.

CityMirrorNews had earlier reported the first positive case in Plateau state before this official confirmation.

This confirmation has brought the total confirmed cases in the country to 981, total discharged 197 while total deaths stands at 31 as confirmed by the NCDC as at Thursday, April 23, 2020.