The Kogi State Government in North Central Nigeria has reiterated that it takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard citizens from all threats to their health and from all diseases, including COVID-19, Lassa fever and other ailments.

The assurance was given in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, following a distress call from an expatriate working with an international organization in Kogi State who suspected that she had symptoms of COVID-19 and had generated widespread speculation.

He explained that the case does not fit into the spectrum of criteria set by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for actual or suspected CoviD-19 cases requiring testing.

“The expatriate, an adult female, sent a message to the Kogi State COVID-19 Squadron Committee, expressing fears that she was exhibiting symptoms similar to those of COVID-19. Immediately the message was received, the Incident Manager who is also the Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Haruna, led a team of medical experts to assess the situation with a bid to ascertain if the alleged symptoms fit into the criteria set by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control for Covid-19 testing. Upon arrival at the residence of the expatriate, she narrated to the team in an interview captured on video how the symptoms she earlier communicated in her phone call had disappeared. The Incident Officer still went ahead to take her temperature using the recommended infrared thermometer and her temperature was at a healthy 36.8°C” Fanwo said.

He added that the temperature readings fell totally within normal range and she did not exhibit any of the other covid-19 symptoms.

The Commissioner however expressed concern over the individuals insistent that her case be escalated to the NCDC for covid-19 testing.

Mr. Fanwo noted that while the Kogi State Government will never conceal any real case of the novel coronavirus disease if it occurs in the state, he said “Kogi state will adhere strictly to NCDC guidelines to vehemently resist all attempts to manufacture false figures or cases of COVID-19 in the State.”

He commended the people of Kogi State for showing admirable resilience and a strong sense of responsibility since the covid-19 pandemic broke out and urged them to continue observing the recommended personal, environmental and respiratory hygiene protocols as recommended by both international and national regulatory authorities.