By Nelson Ogbu
Benue State has now reached the community transmission level of the COVID-19 pandemic, Secretary to the State Action Committee on the virus and Commissioner for Heath and Human Services, Dr Sunday Ongbabo, revealed.
Speaking to journalists at the state secretariat Friday, Ongbabo said the state just yesterday recorded 3 new cases raising the number from 36 to 39 and advised the people to ensure usage of face masks, maintain social distancing and observe other COVID-19 protocols.
Ongbabo who is a specialist in emergency health services, however, said out of the total 39 confirmed cases only 25 people are active, 13 already discharged while 1 relocated.
While stressing that
Benue and Nigeria cannot insist on continuous lockdown despite the increase in the spread of the disease, he further regretted that citizens appear to be noncompliant on the safety measures irrespective of the rigorous awareness campaign by the Committee.
According to him, the Action Committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Engr Benson Abounu, would soon recommend the enforcement of the usage of face masks because of the non-compliance.
He noted that many have refused to observe social distancing in the mosques, churches and markets and asked those insisting on gathering in large numbers to choose between their lives and such congestion adding that anyone that doubts the existence of COVID-19 runs the risk of contracting the disease.
