‘Why There May Be More Deaths In Kano’ – Aliyu

Dr. Sani Aliyu, the National Coordinator, Presidential Task Force on Coronavirus, has revealed why there may be more deaths in Kano State.

He further stated that the Federal Government is yet to assertain the number of people that have died from COVID-19 in the state.

Dr Aliyu made this claim while reacting to the report that Coronavirus testing laboratory in the state was closed due to the lack of reagents.

The Coordinator added that the laboratory was closed after some of its staff test results came out positive.

Aliyu stated this during a press briefing by the World Economic Forum/World Health Organisation.

“The laboratory was closed to allow for decontamination as we were unsure if the staff contracted it during analysis of samples or from outside the facility.”

“The Kano testing laboratory was closed down because one or two persons in the lab acquired COVID-19. It wasn’t very clear whether they acquired it in the facility or if it was brought in. This has raised concerns, so we have taken measures to disinfect the place.”

He noted that the samples can still be collected, he added that measures have been put in place to ensure samples are taken.

“The laboratory will not be closed for too long because three or four days is enough to decontaminate the facility.”

“There are several scenarios that could be happening; one is that there could be increase in numbers of death due to COVID-19, the other possibility is that it may not be caused by the virus,” he said.

“You are aware that a lot of hospitals in Kano have closed so people with medical concerns are having difficulty accessing care, so the deaths may not be related to the virus. We are awaiting the investigation to ascertain the true picture.”

Aliyu further disclosed that there are only 350 ventilators in the country before the outbreak of the disease in Nigeria, but that another 100 have been added.