Agnes Okafor-Igwe, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State has recorded its first COVID-19 death even as it recorded 72 new cases of infection.
Governor David Umahi, on Friday, announced this development, describing it as regrettable and saddening while ordering the shutting down of all courts in the state to control the spread of the pandemic.
The governor gave the directive in a broadcast to residents.
He also ordered all staff of the state Judiciary to immediately submit themselves for COVID-19 testing, possible isolation and treatment.
The 72 new cases recorded brings the total number of COVID-19 infected persons in the state to 234, the highest so far in Southeast Nigeria.
This also made Ebonyi State the 14th state with the highest number of cases in the entire country.