We have made some gains in the fight against COVID-19, says Obaseki

Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, says the state has made some progress in the fight against COVID-19.

In a statewide broadcast on Friday, Obaseki said the disease is spreading rapidly in communities.

He asked people to stay safe and obey safety tips recommended by health authorities.

Obaseki also felicitated with Muslims on the occasion of Eid-El-Kabir, urging them to reflect on the key messages of the event which are sacrifice and penitence.

“My dear good people of Edo State, on this occasion of Eid-El-Kabir, I join our Muslim brothers and sisters to thank God Almighty for preserving and protecting us thus far,” he said.

“This year, we are celebrating the Eid-El-Kabir differently because of the disruptions caused by corona virus (COVID-19). This makes it more pertinent for us to reflect on the key messages of Eid which are sacrifice and penitence, which bring us blessings and hope.

“As we go about with celebrations, I urge you to protect yourselves and stay safe by observing physical distancing, wearing face masks and regularly washing your hands.

“COVID-19 is still very much with us and spreading rapidly in our communities. Although we have made some gains particularly as we now have a lot of data and information on the disease.

“The epicentre of COVID-19 in Edo State remains the larger Benin metropolitan area, Esan West and Etsako West. We have recorded some measure of success in managing the pandemic and protecting our people from its vicious grip, but there is still room for more improvement as we continue to refine measures to protect the vast majority of our people from the virus.

“Our strategy to screen, test and treat has been acknowledged by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Federal Ministry of Health as one of the most coordinated and effective responses by any state in Nigeria.

“We have exceeded our target and have now screened over 540,000 persons and tested over 10,000 persons from our 3 testing facilities. COVID-19 testing in Edo State is almost twice the national average. This explains why the number of confirmed cases of 2,200 is one of the highest in the country.

“Sadly, we also have one of the highest death rates from COVID-19 in Nigeria. 75 per cent of those who have died from COVID-19 are our older citizens.

“This mortality rate is of serious concern to the state government, because many of these deaths could have been prevented if citizens adhered to COVID-19 prevention regulations. I am therefore urging everyone to observe the guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus such as regular hand washing under running water and use of alcohol-based sanitiser; and avoiding gatherings with large number of persons.”