Six COVID-19 patients discharged in Kaduna

Six patients who received treatment for COVID-19 in Kaduna state have been discharged.

Amina Mohammed Baloni, commissioner for health in the state, confirmed the development in a statement on Saturday.

“The index case, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, was discharged on April, 22, 2020, after two consecutive negative test results. Five cases were earlier discharged in the one week, starting from 14 April 2020,’’ she said.

She, however, expressed regrets that the state had recorded a new case of the disease, saying as of Saturday afternoon, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Kaduna were four.

She said contact tracing is ongoing to identify persons the new case has interacted with so that they can be monitored and tested if they meet the case definition.

Baloni said el-Rufai has acknowledged the “sterling” efforts of medical professionals in the state.

“I appeal to them and the other stakeholders involved in the efforts of the Ministry of Health to manage and contain Covid-19 in Kaduna State to remain dedicated,” she added.

The commissioner said the testing capacity in Kaduna is improving, adding that the state has a laboratory accredited by NCDC to conduct Covid-19 tests.

‘’Two other labs, one in Kaduna and the other in Zaria, are undergoing NCDC verification and are expected to secure test accreditation shortly,” she said.

“As at Friday, 24 April 2020, Kaduna State has tested 133 persons, out which 10 have tested positive.”