Cross River State has finally recorded 5 positive cases of the dreaded Coronavirus.
This was announced by the Chief Medical Director of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme on Wednesday, July 3 in an internal memo to staff and patients of the hospital.
Prof. Ikpeme said the tests were carried out using the standard PCR Testing Technique at Alex Ekwueme Teaching Hospital, Abakiliki, Ebonyi State.
He added that out of the 5 patients tested, 2 were staff of the hospital who have recovered from the virus.
The memo reads in part: “The management of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital wishes to inform our hospital staff and patients that Covid-19 tests performed on 5 samples from our hospital returned positive. Two of these samples came from our medical staff. These staff have since made tremendous progress along the path of recovery and are doing well. The tests were performed using PCR Technique at the NCDC Accredited Laboratory located at Alex Ekwueme Teaching Hospital, Abakiliki.
“We wish to reassure our staff and patients that a positive Covid-19 test is not a death sentence nor a reason for any type of fear or stigmatization. As stated above, our medical personnel have recovered. We urge all staff and patients to abide by the guidelines on hand and respiratory hygiene as advised by the State and Federal Government through various agencies, especially the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control”. The memo read.