Covid-19: 3 Years Old Child Test Positive

A three year old child has tested positive for coronavirus in Ebonyi on May 11, becoming the eighth case recorded in the state.

Governor David Umahi stated this in a broadcast on the state’s broadcast stations after the Security/Covid-19 Committee meeting on Wednesday

According to the Governor, the child is one of the two children of a positive couple confirmed positive last week.

Umahi however lamented that the parents have refused to release the second child and continued to breastfeed him in their isolation room.

He said: “As at today, we have a total of eight cases. Three of the cases are very sympathetic because it involves a man and the wife. The man and the wife have two little children; one is a year plus, the other one is three years.

“Then we tested the man and the woman. In fact, we took the woman and the man followed to perform his husbandry role and we tested them and both of them tested positives. Now, that is the 6th and 7th cases”.

On 11th of this month, one of the kids; the three year old tested positive now left with the little child of a year and half. The doctors have been battling because the child that tested negative is still sucking breast and the Doctors have preached everything to the father and the mother to isolate the little child since that child tested negative twice”

“We even promised that the state will support the little child if they can bring the child care or we provide one but they have held the child”.

“Even through our CCT monitor, they will remove the child’s shirt and then be breastfeeding the child. We don’t know what to do in that kind of circumstance”, Umahi said.

Governor also revealed he and his Énugu counterpart, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi are planning on erecting a fence at the border to prevent people from crossing from one state to other.

“I spoke with Enugu Governor and we agreed to share building of gate together and it is still on my mind to build gates at our borders so that when we lock it, we just go home. We will build it in such a way that even if you want to go through the bush, you cannot pass.

“I am going to be very strict on these border restrictions. If there were restriction of borders, we wouldn’t have even one case in Ebonyi state and that is the truth”.

Covid-19: 700 People Quarantined By Ebonyi State For Inter-travel Ban Violation

Governor David Umahi has confirmed the arrest of 700 persons accused of illegally entering Ebonyi state, following an interstate travel ban instituted to curb the spread of Coronavirus in the state.

The Ebonyi state Governor who disclosed this after a joint meeting of the state security council and Covid-19 Committee, said the interstate travel ban violators who were rounded up across the state especially at the boundaries are currently being quarantined at the Pa Oruta Ngele Township Stadium, Abakaliki.

Umahi also revealed revealed that the state government will be decentralizing the quarantine procedure to the 64 Development Centres and the 13 local government areas.

He said;

“From henceforth, anybody entering the state should be taken to the nearest development centre and quarantined there.

“While there, they will attended to and monitored by the medical teams 24 hours of the day. Anyone who manifests symptoms of Covid-19 will then be brought to Abakaliki holding centre for tests.

“You are not doing yourself, family or community a favour if you allow any returnee stay at home without coming to the isolation centre. If the persons has it then he will likely spread it to more people in your area. So it is better you help bring such persons to any of the development centres for isolation.”

Commenting on the current state of the five confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, Governor Umahi said they are responding to treatment at the isolation centre at Unity Square, Abakaliki.

He also revealed that a 300-bed isolation centre which is currently under construction will be handed over to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki in the next 10 days.

Sun & Vanguard Reporters Banned From Ebonyi Government House For Life - Gov. David Umahi

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, Wednesday banned the Correspondents of The Sun newspaper, Chijioke Agwu, and the Vanguard Newspaper, Peter Okutu, from entering Government house and Government facilities in the State for life.

Umahi who made the statement in a statewide live broadcast aired in the State’s Television and Radio stations said he was displeased with the leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists, for failing to discipline their members.

Umahi had last week Saturday ordered the arrest of The Sun Correspondent, Chijioke Agwu, over a report he did on the Lassa Fever outbreak in the state who was later released.

Three days later, Mr. Peter Okutu, was arrested on the orders of Ohaukwu LGA Chairman, Mr. Clement Odah, over a report he did on the alleged military invasion of Umuogodoakpu-Ngbo community in the council area. He has also been released.

Governor Umahi who said the safety of Journalists in the State could no longer be guaranteed by him noted that the people were angry with the Journalists and might begin to unleash mayhem on them if they continue to cause panic in the state.

According to him, if you think you have the pen, we have the koboko.

His words: “I want to say that I am very displeased with the president and leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and I am going to seize their allowances for two months because they have failed to discipline their members.

“Ebonyi State is no longer a dumping ground. Only the other day, Chijioke Agwu (referring to The Sun Correspondent) wrote that Lassa Fever is killing Ebonyi people in droves and few days back, Mr Peter Okutu of Vanguard did his own.

Okutu is fond of degrading Ebonyi State, and I don’t know why my officials have allowed him to continue to do that, because he is not from Ebonyi State. I want to ban him for life with Chijioke Agwu. I don’t want to see them anywhere in any Government facility.

“We are not begging you to give us good report, because the only person that gives good or bad report is God. We are all accountable to him. If you think that Ebonyi State is a dumping ground, try it again.

“If you think you have the pen, we have the koboko. Let’s leave the Court alone. Ebonyi people are very angry with the press and let me warn that I won’t be able to control them or know when they unleash mayhem on you, if you continue to write to create panic in the State.

“I want you to write it that way, that I said, press in Ebonyi is trying to create another COVID-19 that is more dangerous and that is to create panic in our people.

“The other one wrote that cholera has killed 20 people in Ohaukwu. If you try it again, I may not know when Ebonyians may react. This is important for the NUJ to know.

“If you are an Ebonyi man or live in Ebonyi and you don’t feel our pains, it is a shame on you. Maybe, the press people claim they are untouchable. I have reported to the National President of NUJ, I have reported to State leadership of NUJ and I have reported to the public. Now, the dye is cast. May God save us, in the course of time”