UCTH Announces 5 New COVID-19 Positive Cases in C’River

The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital ( UCTH), yesterday announced five new positive cases of COVID-19 in its Isolation and Treatment Centre in Cross River State.

This brings to six the number of positive cases for the virus reported in the state since Thursday, June 25, when the hospital announced the first case of the patient which its management said was successfully treated.

The latest announcement of the presence of the virus contradicts the official position of the state government which had insisted, from the outset, that the territory was free of any COVID-19 infection.

The announcement from the UCTH came barely 24 hours after the State Governor Professor Ben Ayade, and his cabinet and some of his aides danced hilariously on Thursday, at the Government House field, Calabar, celebrating what they described as the nonexistence of COVID-19 in the state.

At the event, Ayade addressed members of the State COVID-19 Response Taskforce, and said he was delighted that the state has so far remained free of the virus.

“As a general treatment protocol, in hospitals in Cross River State, people are so well trained and equipped with public enlightenment. This accounts for one of the reasons for the zero COVID-19 case in the state.

“We introduced the use of nose masks early. In fact, we were the first to lock our borders, we introduced face shields. We were the first in anything that were required as defensive mechanism against COVID-19. So, it became obvious and clear that we were able to contain with other airborne-related diseases. So, we have no reason to suggest that there is pandemic in Cross River. Statistics also show it ....

“It is a pandemic, therefore, when you say somebody has Coronavirus, it means it can spread to all family members, they will all come down with it.