Kaduna: Covid-19 on the rise—Health Commissioner

The Commissioner of Health, Dr Amina Mohammed-Baloni said that there have been rising cases in the last three weeks in Kaduna state, with an average daily infection of 100.
According to the commissioner, one out of every three samples  that were  tested turns out to be Covid-19 positive, adding that the cases are even higher.
Dr Baloni revealed that the infection rates  are higher in eight local governments, including Kaduna North and Kaduna South local government areas, Chikun, Igabi, Zaria, Sabon Gari, Jema’a, Lere and Soba  local governments.
The commissioner further said that Kaduna North local government has the highest number of cases, adding that 47 people have so far died throughout the state, out of which two were health workers.
Dr Baloni revealed that Kaduna state now has eight testing centres located at Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital, Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Saminaka and Kafanchan  General Hospitals, as well as Saye General Hospital, including additional centres in Zaria and Kaduna and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital.
Dr Balonisaid  that  testing is free and samples are being  collected in all General Hospitals at the local governments. She advised residents to get tested once they notice Covid-like symptoms.
The commissioner also debunked the insinuation that the recently held  Kaduna Marathon was responsible for the rise in Covid-19 cases.
‘’All the foreign athletes that came for the event were tested prior to entering Nigeria as Federal Government protocols demand. They were tested in Kaduna and then tested in Lagos before departure.

‘’We had said prior to the event that it will be cancelled if the Covid-19 figures prior to the marathon surged. We did not have such a surge at the time,’’ she added.

Kaduna: All schools remain closed—Education Commissioner
The Commissioner of Education, Dr Shehu Usman Muhammad Makarfi has clarified that all schools in Kaduna state, irrespective of their ownership, have been closed so as to check the spread of Coronavirus.

Dr Makarfi who made the clarification at the media chat on Wednesday night, said that the closure is not limited to Kaduna state government-owned schools, adding that all schools located in the state are affected by the directive.
‘’Public and private schools, Islamiyya schools, state and federal government-owned tertiary schools, all institutions of learning in whatever name or guise are included in the directive,’’ he said.
The commissioner said that government took the decision to save the lives of pupils and students in the light of the second wave of Covid-19 infections, adding that ‘’learning is for the living.’’
According toDr Makarfi, the  people who are blaming government for taking what they describe as ‘’drastic measures’’, will be the same people that will blame government for ‘’laxity’’ in the event of fatalities owing to the virus.
The commissioner  revealed that ‘’some schools had recorded Covid infections among students and teachers. As the figures rose, we thought it was better to reduce one source of contact among people from different homes in the interest of everyone.’’
‘’As per resumption in January 2021, our decision will be guided by the advice of the Ministry of Health. School must be a safe place for learning, not an incubator of disease and ill-health,’’ he said.