Covid-19; Imo Assembly Shut, Mother of Twins Dies after Delivery At FMC, Owerri

By Adesina Soyooye

The Imo State House of Assembly has been shut down for the next 14 days.

The Chairman of the Imo State Taskforce Committee on Covid-19, Prof. Maurice Iwu, said the  IMHA was shut  down  in order to  fumigate the premises.

This was disclosed in.a Press Release by the Chief Press Secretary/ Media Adviser to the Governor, Oguwuike Nwachuku, which was, surprisingly, later withdrawn.

But this magazine gathered that a high ranking member of the  House, (name withheld), and members of his family tested positive for  COVID- 19. We also confirmed that the House have been shut down.

Stories have been rife that a couple of members of the Assembly have contracted COVOD-19. Even though the House denied the story, the closure confirms it, as did Iwu.

The House Members, Management and Staff have been ordered to go  into self isolation for 14 days.

According to the  Taskforce, “a member of the House  of Assembly tested positive to Covid-19 which constitutes a very serious danger to other members, management and staff of the Assembly Complex.”

Briefing newsmen on Tuesday on the Covid-19 pandemic as it concerns Imo Sate, Prof. Iwu said the scare at the Assembly was real and that there was need to take proactive measures to protect the people using the complex as office.

He further said that the Committee had embarked on enhanced screening of Imolites on Covid-19 and that, so far, the State has tested 760 people with 135 testing positive out of which 92 are active cases.

Prof. Iwu said that 43 have been discharged while one death has been recorded.

According to him, the dead was case a lady who was delivered of a set of twins and was in the custody of the Taskforce before delivery.

The Chairman further explained that currently, Imo State is having four positive cases in the isolation centre at Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, another four at Woddi Centre also in Owerri, while others are at different isolation centres across the state.

He emphasized that the Committee has worked out a strategic plan to ensure that health of our people is guaranteed by ensuring that they do not compromise social harmony.

“Hence, social harmony is important in the strategic plan to fight the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

Prof. Iwu reiterated the earlier warning on the three categories of people that are more vulnerable to the virus to include elderly people of 65 years and above, people with underlining ailments and medical professions who come in daily contact with the carriers.

He appealed to all and sundry to join hands with the State Government, the Taskforce Committee and the World Health Organization, WHO to observe all laid down protocols (rules and regulations) such as regular hand washing, use of alcohol-based sanitiser, maintaining social distancing, putting on face mask and reporting any emergency illness that has to do with coughing, sneezing and difficulty in breathing to the nearest medical authorities.