Five family members of late Perm Secretary test positive for COVID-19

Five family members of a late permanent secretary in Ebonyi State, who died of COVID-19, have tested positive for the novel virus.

It was gathered that the ex-permanent secretary died of the virus penultimate Tuesday, the same day a former Chief Medical Director of the Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana-Afikpo, Ebonyi State, also died of the disease.

Investigations revealed that five family members of the late PS, including his wife (a teacher), tested positive for the virus on Friday.

A family source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that since the five patients arrived at the Elinwovu Treatment Centre, nobody had attended to them.

The source said, “The state government is trying its best to contain this pandemic, but the health workers are not helping matters.”

But the doctor in charge of the Elinwovu Treatment Centre, Dr Sunday Ucha, said the patients were not abandoned, explaining that his team members had transport challenges.

He said, “Another challenge we are having is the absence of test kits. This is not a problem in Ebonyi alone, but throughout the country. So, if you see anybody who has it (COVID-19 test kits), ask the person to come. The governor is ready to buy and so, right now, we are testing, but not with test kits.”