Jigawa State Government has announed two new cases of COVID-19, taking its tally to nine.
Governor Badaru Abubakar made this known on Wednesday through his Special Assistant on New Media, Auwal D Sankara.
According to Sankara, the new cases are from Gujungu town in Taura and Birninkudu Local Government Areas.
Owing to the latest development, the state governor , extended lockdown to three additional LGAs.
“Jigawa state Government has announced the lockdown in three additional local Governments after recording two new cases in the State,” the statement reads.
“This was confirmed by the state Governor Badaru Abubakar in a press briefing at the state Government house in Dutse, the state Capital.
“According to him, one is from Gujungu town in Taura local government , the other in Birninkudu local government but works in Gumel local government, hence the lockdown in the three local Governments.
“Meanwhile, the index case that was transferred from Kano tested negative but will only be discharged after testing negative for the second time.
“On the positive note, the two patients on admission are doing well and indeed the result of the index caseTransferred from Kano returned negative which is an encouraging sign of progress. Once the second test becomes negative, the patient would be discharged.
“On the flip side of the coin, however, the results from Abuja returned 2 samples positive, one from Gujungu in Taura local Government, and the other in Birninkudu but working in Gumel. As it was applied in Kazaure, it has become imperative to also lockdown Gujungu, Birninkudu and Gumel for one from Thursday 30 April at 12 midnight to allow for contact tracing and sample collections in the areas.”
With the new infections, Jigawa now has nine cases in less than 12 days.
The state recorded its index case on April 17th, a native whose sample was taken in Kano but sent back to Jigawa after testing positive.
The case was recorded in Kano by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and placed in isolation before being transported to Jigawa.
The NCDC had on Tuesday night confirmed five fresh cases in the state.
In neighbouring Kano, meanwhile, there has been 115 cases although authorities believe the true picture would be unveiled in the coming days.
