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COVID-19: Ayade
Explains Why Cross River Remains virus free. Lauds Buhari, NCDC
Cross River state Governor, Sen, Prof. Ben Ayade, Thursday in Calabar explained why the state remained free of the novel Coronavirus while commending President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Federal Ministry of Health and the State COVID-19 Response Taskforce for their skillful management of the pandemic in the state.
The elated Governor who spoke during a meeting with the state response team, announced a cash donation to the state COVID-19 Response Taskforce for working day and night to ensure that the state remains free of the virus
Ayade attributed Cross River’s zero- virus status in the first phase of the pandemic management to his administration’s proactive measures which has yielded favourable results. He says
“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”.
The outspoken Professor of Biological Sciences also added that the virus was a pandemic that cannot be hidden as misconstrued by mischief makers even as he expressed his helplessness to residents of the state in view of the resumed inter-states travels. Saying that he has officially handed over the pandemic management to the Federal government.
“It is a pandemic, therefore, you can’t hide it.
“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 for our efforts.
“I will like to commend all our citizens too. 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.
“Now I have officially handed over Cross River to the federal government control 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.
“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”. Ayade stated
