By Gbadamosi oladimeji
The Kaduna State Government has confirmed six fresh cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of persons affected in the state to 12.
This was made known in a statement on Saturday by the state’s Commissioner for Health, Aminat Mohammad Baloni.
“The sixth case of Covid-19 in Kaduna State was diagnosed. He is a male who worked as a gateman in the Mando area and recently returned from Lagos. He traveled to Kaduna on public transport and made contact” she said in a tweet.
Mohammed revealed that the patient has been moved to the state’s Infectious Disease Centre.
” He has no connection with the first five cases in the state.This case presents us with the nightmare scenario of possible community transmission of Covid-19,” she added.
“In the state, it is vey difficult and complicated to trace the contacts of a patient who came from Lagos via public transport and has had some instance of local commuting since his arrival. The Rapid Response Team is trying its utmost to elicit from him a list of his contacts so that they can be traced and monitored.
“He does not know who his fellow passengers from Lagos are. But the team is working to develop an idea of his local contacts in Kaduna, including any vehicles he commuted in and people he met at the hospital he visited and within his area.
“It was in order to prevent and avert a scenario like this that the government has consistently appealed to the public to practice social distancing and directed commercial buses to carry no more than two passengers per row.”
She noted that the government also outrightly banned motorcycle, taxis and tricycles because they do not satisfy the conditions for social distancing.
“In addition, government reiterates its advice against large gatherings and congregational prayers. Now that there is a case of possible.
“These are dangerous times, but we can work together to stop this disease from spreading. It is cheaper and better to prevent Covid-19 than to catch it.” She said.
“The instances that have now being recorded of people spreading Covid-19 from one state to another further reinforces the need to stop all inter-state travel. People need to stay in one place and help reduce the spread of Covid-19.”
