The Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade has commended president Muhammadu Buhari, NCDC, Federal Ministry of Health and the State Covid-19 Taskforce for skillful management and response of the pandemic.
The Governor on Thursday said; "As the country enters the next phase of the novel Coronavirus management, I commend President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Federal Ministry of Health and the State COVID-19 Response Taskforce for the skillful management of the pandemic.6
"I am delighted to annouce that till this day Cross River State so far remains free of the virus.
"As a general treatment protocol, in hospitals in Cross River state, people are so well trained and equipped with public enlightenment. This accounts for one of the reasons for the zero COVID-19 case in the state."
"We introduced the use of nose masks early. In fact, we were the first to lock our borders, we introduced face shields. We were the first in anything that were required as defensive mechanism against COVID-19. "
"So, it became obvious and clear that we were able to contain with other airborne related diseases.
"We have no reason to suggest that there is pandemic in Cross River. Statistics also show it.
"It is a pandemic, therefore, when you say somebody has Coronavirus virus, it means it can spread to all family members, they will all come down with it. You can't hide it.
"Mischief makers are wondering why Cross River which is surrounded by COVID-19 infested states and country is free from it but they forget that Coronavirus is not politics, it is not a political issue but a biological issue and therefore, can be contained, can be dealt with."
"I thank Mr.President for being on top of the situation, I thank the Federal Ministry of Health for their efforts too.
"I am happy that the NCDC was very generous with their appreciation of our efforts and that is why I don't also hesitate to commend them because we have never had pandemic before but you see them staying strong, responding swiftly, following international protocols and keeping to professional standard.
"I will like to commend all our citizens too. And now that our state borders are open, this is the time for us to actually be scared and be more careful, this is the time that we are in real danger. This is why we have to intensify the use of nose masks. This is time for us to increase our vigilance.
'Now, I have no control. I have officially handed over Cross River to the federal government as far as COVID-19 is concerned because I can't close my borders anymore, I don't have control over the airspace.
"So, whatever happens going forward, I wish to say kudos to Cross River and Cross Riverians for being a state and a people that walked through this big challenge and ended up victorious.
"Cross River has done such a great battle and won. We have a 100-bed Isolation centre that is laying fallow till date, nobody is there. We have doctors on stand by but nobody is at the Isolation centre because our state has zero COVID-19 case.
"We are calling on the NCDC and the federal Ministry of Health to set up a COVID-19 testing centre in Cross River state.
"Once we have a testing centre that has been certified by the NCDC we will be encouraged to do more testing because the rapid testing method is not acceptable and reliable."
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