The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has advised the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello that Coronavirus doesn’t show on the forehead and only testing will reveal whether anyone from Kogi State has the virus.
The Director General of the NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu said further that the only way to understand the scale of the viral outbreak is by testing.
The NCDC had said earlier that Cross Rivers, Kogi and Kebbi which have not recorded any cases of the virus refused to send in enough samples for testing.
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The Kogi State Government had frowned at the comments saying it was an attempt to bring disrepute to the state. It also said it was conducting tests in the State via self assessment mobile apps and no one infection had been detected.
Reacting to the response of Kogi State however, Ihekweazu said Coronavirus status wasn’t written on the forehead and only tests can reveal carriers of the disease.
“The only way you can know whether you have this virus in the early days is to get tested. The way we talk about it, we’ve had the largest number of Lassa fever cases in Nigeria ever. We have it because we’ve become more aware, we are testing more and we are finding more.
“The only way we can understand the scale of COVID-19 is by testing. So, it’s really not a controversial issue, everybody has agreed on that fact, we are pushed everyday to test more. I don’t think my comments were controversial, my role is to continue supporting every state in Nigeria with labs, opportunities to test.
“Most states in Nigeria are asking us, pushing us; how do I get a lab, how do I test more people and we will continue to do this on behalf of every state.”
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