A member of the Correspondents Chapel of the Adamawa Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has emerged the first journalist to test positive for COVID-19 and the index case in the state.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), on Wednesday, confirmed Adamawa’s maiden infection after Governor Ahmadu Fintiri made the announcement.
Fintiri, in a statewide broadcast, confirmed the development, saying, “The index case is a returnee from Kano State last week.”
According to him, “Upon feeling sick, the person presented himself at the state Specialist Hospital, Yola, and his samples were taken and came out positive.”
It was learnt that on returning from the North West State, he immediately proceeded on self-isolation, apparently, due to suspicion.
The Adamawa State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Donald Dedan, has subsequently directed a shut down of its secretariat.
Mr. Dedan said the measure was taken to contain the spread of the disease.
“With this development, the leadership of NUJ will shut down all other activities and businesses at the press centre, Yola with effect from Friday, April 24,” he said.
“While only accredited journalists from various media will cover the daily briefings by the Adamawa COVID-19 Containment Committee, it is imperative to ask all journalists to adhere strictly to safety measures against COVID-19.
“The NUJ also calls on the COVID-19 Committee to urgently provide journalists covering its daily briefings and other activities with necessary safety materials and resources to enable them peto rform their duties effectively,” Dedan said.
The NUJ State Chairman urged the public to always see journalists as partners in progress as well as critical stakeholders in the fight against COVID-19.
