The Kano State government on Sunday said the COVID-19 pandemic in the state was serious, admitting for the first time the high rate of deaths in the state.

The state Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, in a statement, said the government had started taking measures to resolve the problem.

Garba appealed for the support of every stakeholder, adding that the state alone could not confront the challenge.

He said,

“Though we agree that the situation on hand currently is serious, we are not resting on our oars in taking appropriate measures to ensure that the good people of Kano State, and indeed, residents in the state, protect themselves from the novel COVID-19 pandemic.

“More so, the state government has three modern isolation centres where those tested positive for COVID-19 are being cared for. We are also hopeful of getting additional two isolation. The government has also hired a hotel where suspected cases are accommodated.

“Also, the Kano State Government is collaborating with the Bayero University Kano to establish a testing centre within the institution, which will be ready in two weeks time after being certified by the NCDC. This will, indeed, enhance our determination to ensure that every suspected case undergo test.

“Governor Ganduje has also sent a passionate appeal to the Federal Government to urgently work on the NCDC testing centre at AKTH which has been closed down for sometime now.

“We have enough medical manpower that can take care of the patients. What we are now asking for is financial assistance from the Federal Government and other donors to help sustain all this infrastructure and also continue the provision of palliatives to our people.”

Garba said although investigation into the cause of the deaths was ongoing, preliminary report from the Ministry of Health indicated that the deaths were caused by complications from hypertension, diabetes, meningitis and acute malaria.

He said the state government was awaiting the final report from the ministry of health so as to take necessary action.