… As Gov Ikpeazu reportedly recovers
The Abia State government has disclosed that its first laboratory for testing samples of COVID-19 infection has commenced operation at the Specialist Hospital & Diagnostic Centre, Amachara, near Umuahia.
It also announced that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who has been undergoing treatment for COVID-19, has recovered, and is being expected back at work after the stipulated isolation and treatment period.
The laboratory, the government said, has been approved by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) after inspection by its officials, who also supervised analysis of the first test samples, adding that the results tallied with those obtained from the NCDC facility in Abuja.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Osuji, disclosed that other testing centres would commence at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Aba, Umuahia and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
Director of the Amachara Testing Laboratory, Dr. Okorie Onuka, said the facility could produce 200 test results daily at the rate of one per 45 minutes.
Providing an update on the State’s COVID-19 situation, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. John Okiyi Kalu, said of the 252 confirmed cases in so far, 91 were discharged from the Amachara Isolation Centre, stressing that there has been no death in its isolation centres.
Also, Consultant Community Physician and Medical Director of the Abia State Health Management Board, Dr. Ijeoma Nduka, hinted that in some conditions, asymptomatic patients could self-isolate in their homes under close monitoring.