Plateau discharges index COVID-19 patient

The Plateau government, on Thursday, discharged the state’s index COVID-19 case from its isolation centre at Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

The patient was confirmed positive for the virus on April 23.

Nathan Shehu, the consultant physician, infectious disease, at JUTH who confirmed the discharge of the patient, said the treatment was “successful”.

“The patient has recovered and is fit to reintegrate into the community. She no longer poses a risk,” Shehu said.

“The patient came asymptomatic; after treatment, her samples were taken and they all are negative, so she is discharged and can go home.

“The advice we will give her is the same we will give those in the community. She should maintain social distance, respiratory and cough etiquette and hand hygiene.”

The consultant urged the public not to stigmatise those treated and discharged.

“Such persons should be encouraged. This particular patient has already received psycho-social support,” he said.

Nimkong Ndam, the state commissioner for health, also confirmed the news.

Ndam said the patient would be conveyed home by government officials as she had been certified COVID-19 free.

“Government officials will take her home. She is now free from the virus,” he said.

So far, five COVID-19 cases have been recorded in the state.