Gombe Covid-19 taskforce goes bankrupt as community spread increases; 63 cases recorded in four days; 3 commissioners, 1 special adviser, 5 legislators affected
William Attah, Gombe
Chairman of the Gombe State Taskforce on Covid-19, Professor Idris Mohammed has sent a save-our-soul (SOS) message to the Gombe State Government over rising increase of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the State amidst empty treasury to keep the fight going.
He expressed fear that community spread of the virus could land the State in more trouble if money is not released to the Taskforce to continue its activities and engage in massive testing.
Briefing newsmen Tuesday afternoon, the Chairman said, the State had recorded no fewer than 63 confirmed cases in just four days and that lack of funds was slowing its activities.
According to him, the State had so far recorded 10 deaths with 89 active cases at the moment adding that results just received before the press briefing showed that out of six results received, four were positive.
He explained that it is now established that there is more community spread of the virus in Gombe State indicating that the committee must engage communities through massive social mobilization, advocacy and education if the spread must be curtailed.
He advanced the need for the strengthening of it’s rapid response teams with periodic but regular fumigation of areas suspected to be infected such as Mosques, Churches, Markets and other public places.
The Chairman also explained that the State was prepared for an escalation of the virus with more isolation centres being established.
He said, apart from the existing and active isolation centres in Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, State Specialist Hospital Gombe and Idris Mohammed Infectious Disease Hospital Kwadon, there are two more to be established.
“We also have one isolation centre in Bajoga General Hospital, another one in Ashaka, all in Funakaye LGA and two more in Kaltungo LGA”, Professor Idris said.
Responding to the issue of the death of the assistant Secretary of the Covid-19 taskforce committee who is also a Director in the office of the SSG that died from the virus, the State Commissioner of Information, Ibrahim El-Hassan Kwami explained that following the massive tests, five commissioners, one Special Adviser and five State House of Assembly members were found to be positive.
He said, more tests are currently ongoing and that hopefully, all civil servants in the State as well as members of the public will be tested to ascertain their status.
