No Record of COVID-19 Patients among Corps Members in Abia Camp

The State Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, who was briefing newsmen in Umuahia on the erroneous impression regarding Corps members that recently passed out from the State Orientation Camp at Igbere. Bende LGA, said that Government is satisfied with the prevention and control measures put in place by the NYSC management at the camp.

Chief Okiyi Kalu noted that all Corps members and visitors to the camp were subjected to Covid-19 test and made to comply with the necessary protocols right from the gate of the camp using the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kit, adding that out of the 6 positive RDT results who were immediately moved to the Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Center, Amachara, for confirmation tests, 5 returned positive PCR results and were subsequently isolated and managed with 4 already discharged in line with NCDC protocols. However, one is still being managed at the isolation center.

He noted that at no time were the 6 Corps members with positive RDT results allowed to enter the camp. He further gave the breakdown of the tests conducted at the camp as 1,181 RDT tests comprising 973 Corp members and 208 non Corp members with 6 Positive results and 5 PCR confirmation.

The Commissioner reiterated that the state government "is satisfied with the measures put in place by the management of NYSC in the state to prevent the spread of the disease in camp and is fully supporting the Corps with our epidemiology, surveillance and rapid response teamsÔÇØ.

Chief Okiyi who stated that media report of 17 confirmed Covid-19 patients among Corp members is erroneous and should be discarded assured that testing and surveillance processes will continue throughout every camping period and beyond for those serving in the state.

In her contribution, the Abia State Cordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, Lady Bona Fashakin, insisted that the Abia State Orientation Camp of the Corps is Covid-19 free as they have consistently subjected all Corps members and staff to compulsory testing before entry into the camp while all the Covid-19 protocols are observed inside the camp. According to her, those who test positive at the entrance are immediately conveyed by ambulance to Amachara for PCR confirmation without being allowed to enter the camp until certified free of the virus.