Etim Effiong
Many Akwa Ibom State Government House workers have tested positive for COVID-19, raising fears of more people contracting the virus in offices.
Our correspondent learnt that one month ago, 16 members of the Government House Press Corps tested positive for the virus and were all taken to the isolation centre at the Ibom Specialist Hospital for treatment.
It was gathered that other journalists, who had contacts with members of the press corps, were monitored for two weeks.
Government House source told journalists in Uyo on Monday, on condition of anonymity, the state Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, has ordered a massive testing of other units in Government House.
The source said, “It should shock you that within two days we recorded 17 and 18 cases, respectively. Both domestic workers, protocol, security, and others working in Government House, were on the order the governor subjected to test; most of them turned out positive.”
The source expressed concerns that the alarming rate of infected persons within the Government House showed how unsafe the state is.
He said, “These ones are close to the Governor and have the opportunity to be tested and treated, what happens to those who have no such opportunity? Our people may just begin to die massively.
“We need to do more testing, we need to test those who are not close to the corridors of power.”
It was also learnt that a broadcaster in the state was arrested and detained for alleging that nine commissioners in the state were infected with Covid-19.
Emmanuel, during a media chat, was said to have paraded all commissioners before newsmen to debunk the broadcaster’s claims.
The Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Udoh, did not deny that more staff of the Government House could have tested positive for COVID-19.
According to him, key persons in the State Incidence Committee and principal staff of the Government House have not tested positive.
He said, “Ekerette Udoh, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor is not positive; the Secretary to the State Government is not positive and these are the people that we meet everyday.
“Dr Akpabio, the governor’s personal physician and Dr. Nathaniel Adiakpan, the Permanent Secretary, Government House, are not positive and as far as I am concerned, no commissioner is positive.”