‘We‘ll Invoke Necessary Statutes To Force COVID-19 Positives Out’

What will make a COVID-19 patient to adamantly refuse to be evacuated to an isolation centre for proper treatment and safety to others?

That is the wonder at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), but the Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello is not willing to let it at that.

Instead, he has vowed to invoke the necessary laws that would mandatorily make such people to be evacuated to isolation centres.

He made the ruling at a meeting of the FCT COVID-19 Emergency Response Team and the FCTA Management, which he chaired.

Chief Press Secretary to the minister, Anthony Ogunleye, in a statement quotes the minister saying:: “Following the submission by the Response Team that some Covid-19 positive individuals were refusing to go to treatment centers and instead preferred to treat themselves in their homes, the FCT Minister expressed dissatisfaction with this development and said existing laws will be used to force such persons to go to treatment centers explaining that their staying at home posed great risks not just to their families but also immediate communities.

“Since we have begun to witness community transmission of the virus, it is imperative that we must do everything within our power to stop the spread even if we have to compel such persons to go to treatment centres.

“In order to prevent further spread of the virus within the communities, it was resolved that massive testing will be carried out in areas where community transmission has been established, including Mabushi, Gishiri and Utako.

“The Response Team also encouraged all residents to wear face masks when outside in the public and also encouraged them to make their own face masks from cloth and wear them always.

“The Hon. Minister thanked all the frontline workers in the fight against the virus and called for the cooperation of all residents of the Territory in the fight by obeying all laid down measures which include observing social distancing, constant hand washing, observing stay at home directives and maintain respiratory hygiene.

“The meeting also reviewed the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in the FCT and the measures taken to contain it. So far, a total of 263 staff made up of 66 doctors, 103 nurses, 9 pharmacists, 15 laboratory scientists and 70 other staff have been trained while 337 others are slated for training which is on-going in batches”.

Others present at the meeting included, the Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, the Permanent Secretary, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa the Ag Secretary of the Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr Mohammed Kawu, the Director of Public Health, Dr Josephine Okechukwu, heads of the various sub committees of the Response Team and other senior Staff of the Administration.