COVID-19: Obaseki urges residents to protect the elderly as Edo discharges 130 more patients, records 40th death

The Edo State Government has announced the recovery and discharge of 130 more coronavirus (COVID-19) patients who have now tested negative for the virus and cleared to reunite with the society, following their treatment at the state isolation facilities.

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, who disclosed this in a statement, said the death toll in the state has risen to 40, with the elderly accounting for a large number of the fatalities.

The governor, however, urged residents to comply with all safety and precautionary guidelines against the spread of the virus in order to protect the aged population, which accounts for only five percent of the state’s population.

According to Obaseki, “We have discharged 130 more COVID-19 patients from our isolation centres across the state. This brings the number of recovery to 448. We lost 1 (one) more patient to the virus, with the total number of fatalities now 40. Let's stay safe to protect the elderly in our state”

Meanwhile, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Patrick Okundia, said the state was making steady progress in the management of the pandemic, noting that the remaining 707 active cases are being managed at various isolation facilities in the state and are responding well to treatment.

Okundia, who reassured that the government will not relent in its efforts at containing the pandemic and protecting the Edo people, noted: “As we continue to record successes in the management of COVID-19 in Edo State, the government urges all residents to comply with safety measures to curtail the spread of the virus and protect the state’s aged population”.

The commissioner added: “Stay at home and observe all precautionary measures against the spread of the infectious disease, including regular handwashing with soap under running water and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers. Cover your mouth and nose properly when sneezing and/or coughing.

“Two toll-free lines for COVID-19 response have been introduced by Edo State Government to strengthen the initial lines from the State Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO), distributed at the outset of the outbreak. If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, please call 08001235111 or 08002200110 for assistance”.