Coronavirus: Ekiti State Announce Death Of Third Case

The Ekiti State Government has confirmed the death of a 29-year-old woman who was the third index case of Coronavirus in the state.

The state government disclosed that the woman died at the Intensive Care Unit of Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, on Wednesday.

It was reported that the deceased who was a health worker in Lagos sneaked into Ekiti last week before she fell into prolonged labour leading to the discovery that she had contracted coronavirus.

The state Commissioner for Health, Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, while speaking on the development noted that the woman died around 6.58 am Wednesday morning.

She further stated that the deceased infected a 45-year-old medical doctor, who had now been identified as the fourth case in the state by the NCDC.

“The woman showed signs of stability on Monday, but unfortunately, her condition deteriorated yesterday and we lost her exactly 6.58 am today(Wednesday).”

Yaya-Kolade while answering questions on whether her body will be released to the family, noted that the state will take precautions and comply with the World Health Organisation’s safety rules on the burial.

“We are going to liaise with the family on her burial. We are going to consider safety despite the assumption that the virus is not active in corpses, because we don’t know much about the virus.”

“But whatever we are going to do won’t be against the interest of the family. But let me assure you that the state will also be on the side of safety”

She noted that FETHI where the patient died has been fumigated, she called on the public not to stigmatize the hospital or be afraid of patronizing it.

Yaya-Kolade added that all the 78 persons who had contacts with the deceased and the medical doctor, had been traced and placed in isolation.

The Special Adviser, Office of Transformation and Delivery, Prof Bolaji Aluko, said all the youths and traditional rulers across Ekiti, had been co-opted into the border closure policy, for efficiency and strict adherence to the rules.

“We have also begun the prosecution of violators of these closures. Fines and community service were being imposed as sanctions.

“The prosecution has been very strict. Those prosecuted and found guilty paid fines less than N10,000 while some were to serve community service”.

Aluko added that the state had received 1800 bags of rice from the federal government, as ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari, being part of the palliatives distributed to cushion the effect of lockdown on the populace.

“Various community organisations and groups are helping in distributing them to our people.”

“We are also operating the keep your neighbours’ program. It has been kicked off. This is where identifiable vulnerable people are contacted and get food packs for survival directly in their homes”