Kebbi State Government says it has discharged the first person that tested positive for the coronavirus [COVID-19] disease in the state.

The Special Adviser on Media to the State Governor, Yahaya Sarki, in a statement on Tuesday, said the index patient has also been fully re-integrated into society.

The statement said the chairman of the state task force on COVID-19, Alhaji Jafar Mohammed, who also doubles as the state Commissioner for Health, disclosed the development at the Kebbi Medical Centre, Kalgo on Monday.

It added that the patient went through isolation regiment for two weeks and his first and the follow-up tests came out negative.

“Today, we are witnessing the formal discharge of our index case of COVID-19 after undergoing isolation regiment for two consecutive weeks.

“Follow up tests were carried out two consecutive times and the two results turned out to be negative.

“The first test came out on May 6, 2020 and the follow-up investigation on May 9 also came out negative,” Jafar was quoted as saying.

The commissioner described the patient’s discharge as a testimony that the state’s healthcare system is working.

He commended the health team, the case management and the frontline workers of Kebbi Medical Centre, Kalgo isolation centre, for relentlessly putting in their best in the management of the patient.

He also thanked members of the task force , medical workers in the state and Governor Abubakar Bagudu for providing all the needs of the task force as well as the provision of all the necessary facilities at the isolation centre

The Chairman of Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area, Aminu Ahmad, thanked the medical personnel for their selfless service to humanity.

He appealed to the people to always go to the nearest hospital to seek medical attention if they observe any symptoms of COVID-19.

The elated discharged patient, while answering questions from journalists, shortly after he was discharged, was quoted as thanking the health workers and the state government for according him excellent treatment at the isolation centre

He advised people, especially those who have contracted the disease, to quickly report themselves, so as not to infect others.