The Bauchi State government has said that following the confirmation that the state Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed has tested positive to the dreaded COVID-19 disease, the blood samples of no fewer than 30 people who had close contact with him (the Governor) have been taken for testing.

The government, therefore, directed that all those that have come in contact with the Governor should come forward to be tested and should also self-isolate themselves.

The Commissioner of Health in the state, Dr Aliyu Maigoro, disclosed this to Journalists at a Press Conference Tuesday evening at the Ministry’s headquarters in Bauchi.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Bauchi State Governor on Media, Mukhtar Gidado, in a media statement made available to newsmen in the state on Tuesday, disclosed that the National Center for Disease Control has confirmed that the Governor tested positive to the coronavirus.

He said that the Governor was still in self-isolation and is on treatment.

The Commissioner however assured that:

“The Governor is doing well and receiving the required medication. What he has is not a serious problem because he has not demonstrated any of the symptoms of the infection, he only tested positive and treatment has commenced immediately”.

He said that four isolation centres have been created at the Toro General Hospital, Federal Medical Center, Azare, Specialist Hospital in Bauchi and the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi adding that request has been made for the procurement of test kits to facilitate testing of suspected index cases.

Maigoro emphasized the need for the people to keep hygienic living conditions around them in order to ensure that the infection was curtailed and put under control stressing that washing of hands regularly and sanitary condition is very important in the fight against Covid-19.

He also said that the state government is expecting its own share of a grant of $100m released by the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force on Combating Coronavirus which will be used to upgrade health facilities in the state to be able to fight every outbreak.

Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BASPHCDA) Dr Rilwanu Mohammed said that the blood samples of four Emirs of Bauchi, Ningi, Dass and Misau Emirates are also to be taken immediately for testing.

“Besides the blood samples of the 30 people who had close contact with the Governor which have taken and sent for testing, today, I will sent for the blood samples of some of the traditional rulers who had close contact with him to be taken so we can also send for testing and confirmation.

“They are Emirs are the Bauchi, Dass, Ningi and Misau who had close contact with the Governor,” he said.

Mohammed said that Bauchi state cannot be counted among the states that have the COVID-19 disease simply because the Governor tested positive.

He said that:

“We have 14 days from today to do another test to confirm the status of the Governor, it is only then that we will know what stage we are in Bauchi but for now, we are safe.”

The Executive Chairman vowed that:

“If there is another confirmed case of this disease in Bauchi, there is nothing that will stop the government from locking down the state as a measure to contain the spread of the disease. We will do it because we don’t want to take chances.”