COVID-19: Three-year-old tests positive in Imo

A three-year-old child has tested positive for COVID-19 in Imo, according to  Maurice Iwu, chairman of the state task force on COVID-19.

Addressing reporters in Owerri, the state capital, on Wednesday, Iwu said seven active cases were isolated at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri.

He said a family of six, comprising the father and three of his children, including the three year-old child, tested positive for coronavirus.

He said the child would be preferentially isolated.

Iwu said last month, the team intercepted 96 travellers and 42 of them later tested positive for COVID-19.

He said 25 of the 42 cases were not residents of the state and had since gone their ways.

He said the task force, in synergy with other stakeholders, had continued on its mandate of communicating, educating and protecting people of the state on the coronavirus pandemic.

The COVID-19 task force chairman expressed gratitude to the members of the public whom he said had been providing the team with information about suspected cases who are being tested accordingly.

“It is important to stress that the coronavirus is real but not a death sentence. The team has started getting calls from people, informing us of those who are sick, which information is usually scrutinised,” he said.

“The task force is here to serve. We are trying to curtail the spread of coronavirus.

“We urge people to continue to observe all the COVID-19 protocols, such as constant washing of hands under running water, use of alcohol-based sanitiser, social distancing and wearing of face masks.”

He advised churches to adhere to the Federal government’s directive on safety protocols.