There was wild jubilation on Saturday in Oshogbo, the Osun State capital, after 20 staff of an hotel where coronavirus victim lodged on arrival from United Kingdom (UK) tested negative.
It was relief at last for staff of the hotel immediately the results of examination conducted by medical personnel, sample of which was sent to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) returned egative.
The hotel worker, who have since last week Tuesday been quarantined, converged at the frontage of the popular located in Osogbo expressed gratitude to God and lauded Osun State Government for being proactive on measures against the spread of the dreaded virus in the state.
It would be recalled that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola on wednesday this week confirmed the case while addressing newsmen on the matter.
The patient, Governor Oyetola revealed was a returnee from the United Kingdom but lodged in a hotel in Osogbo, Osun State Capital on arrival to the state.
The victim was said to have alerted the management of the hotel who in turn alerted the medical personnel who came to quanrantine the entire staff of the hotel while the sample of the victim blood was tested at Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
While describing the case as sad, Governor Oyeyola said government had also contacted the family of the patient and has since commenced contact tracing to identify people who might have been in contact with the confirmed case.
In a related development, Osun State Deputy Governor, Benedict Alabi shortly after the meeting of the State Government Technical Committee on COVID19 held at the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo said that victim of coronavirus is responding to treatment and in a stable condition.
He said the State medical personnel have been handling and managing the case professionally and that no severe symptoms had been traced to the patient.
Alabi noted that the patient has been helping in easing the job of the medical personnel as he personally surrendered himself for treatment even before his health status was confirmed.
Alabi who commended the patient for the high level of understanding and cooperation he has exhibited, said his action had assisted the state to implement its guiding principles against the deadly disease.
The deputy governor said the government had gathered useful information that would assist in contract tracing of persons that might have come in contact with the confirmed case.
According to him, the state government had stepped up its guiding principles and control measures to curb the spread of the disease. He added that health workers have been put on their toes for optimum performance at the present critical moment.
Alabi further said the government had equipped and strengthened the capacity of the Isolation Centre at the State Specialist Hospital, to handle suspected or confirmed cases.
