COVID 19 - Plateau govt shuts down private hospital as 17 staff test positive

COVID  19 - Plateau govt shuts down private hospital as 17 staff test positive 

Plateau state government on Wednesday closed down a  private hospital in Jos, the Rayfield Medical center , for public safety for two weeks following the facility's exposure to the dreaded  Coronavirus disease.

Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr Nimkong Lar ,who addressed newsmen in Jos  said that two patients who were being managed in the hospital developed COVID 19 .

In his words " Screening of primary and secondary contacts revealed that 17  staff  of the hospital have tested  positive for the virus and are also being attended to by the state ministry of health officials."

"Unfortunately we lost one of  the two persons who were been treated at the hospital ."

He said that as of 17 of June 2020 , Plateau state  now has 198 cases of the virus .

 "As of of Today , 29 health workers have tested positive to the virus in Plateau ."

 Lar called on the people of the state not to panic as government is on top of the situation .

In a related development , the  State Government has decried the lack of adherence to guidelines for COVID-19 by most individuals and some organisations following the suspension of the lockdown order by Governor Simon Lalong on 11th June, 2020.

This was contained in a  statement signed by Dan Manjang the Commissioner for information and communication and made available to newsmen in Jos .

He said that  Government notes the flagrant disregard for the compulsory use of face masks by all citizens outside their homes where many go about without any.

"There is also high disregard to social distancing requirement in public places such as markets, shops, hotels, social centres, restaurants, public transport and some places of worship."

"Some others have chosen to ignore the provision of water, soap and sanitizers in entrances to such public places thereby constituting greater risk to the citizens."

The commissioner added that  some people have also organised large gatherings and social gatherings in contravention of the directive of the Governor. 

"All this has led to an increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the State ."

Manjang said that government hereby warns against non compliance to its directives. Monitoring teams have been put in place to monitor and enforce compliance. This takes immediate effect.

He said that anyone found to be violating the COVID-19 guidelines will be arrested and prosecuted while public places will be shut down and also prosecuted. 

"Government wishes to remind the citizens that COVID-19 is real and still without cure while community spread continues to be occurring. "

"All citizens must take personal responsibility for their health and the health of others."