Few days after 51 doctors treating Coronavirus patients in Italy died of the disease and two medical professionals caught the virus in Nigeria, the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has contracted COVID-19.
The Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Dr.Jesse Otegbayo, said he was screened positive for coronavirus.
He made this clear in a statement that he personally signed on Sunday morning.
Otegbayo said on Monday, March 23, UCH started a quarterly meeting of the 12-man board to last five days in the hospital. He said that they observed as much social distancing and other precautionary steps for coronavirus as possible.
He said on Wednesday morning, however, one of them showed what seemed to be symptoms of Corinavirus, his samples were immediately taken for examination, and the meeting called off.
He said the result was positive on Friday morning, and every person, including him, immediately went into self- isolation while their samples were also taken for testing. Unfortunately, the CMD’s test returned positive on Saturday afternoon and he has remained in isolation as, according to him, he is not symptomatic.
The CMD encouraged all members of staff who have been in contact with him and other participants during this period to immediately proceed on self-isolation pending when they will get tested.
READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW
On Monday 23rd March, we commenced a 12man quarterly board meeting which was meant to last 5 days in the hospital, we observed social distancing and other precautionary measures for covid-19 as much as possible.
However, on Wednesday morning, one of us presented with what appeared to be symptoms of covid-19, his samples were immediately taken for test and the meeting called off.
His results returned positive on Friday morning and every participant (including me) immediately went into self isolation while our samples were also taken for test.
Unfortunately, my result returned positive on Saturday afternoon and I remain in isolation as I am not symptomatic. All staff who have been in contact with me and other participants during this period have been advised to immediately proceed on self-isolation pending the time they get tested.
Covid-19 is spreading faster than we think and I enjoin everyone to take precautions. If one person has it, then a gathering of two becomes dangerous. Stay at home, avoid unnecessary outing and stay safe.
Prof Jesse A. OTEGBAYO, CMD UCH, IBADAN.
