By NWANOSIKE ONU, Awka

Anambra Governor Willie Obiano has told residents to expect more COVID-19 positive cases in the weeks ahead.

He said there are no conflicting figures between the State Government and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on COVID -19 cases in the State as being speculated.

The Governor spoke Friday in Awka through his Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C Don-Adinuba, who is also a member Anambra State Task Force on COVID -19

According to him: “The true situation is far from the impressions some have as a result of the figure.

“There is no dramatic increase in the number of COVID-19 infections in the state. The 20 cases reported by the NCDC yesterday were based on samples taken in over three weeks across the state.

“Some of the samples were even taken outside Anambra State, but were ascribed to our state because the people tested chose, for different reasons, to identify with the state.

“Only seven out of about 100 samples tested at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, Awka, turned out positive. Therefore, the COVID-19 prognosis of our state is still good, one of the very best in the country.

“It is important to bear in mind that many of the 20 reported cases came from Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, which most unfortunately lost one of its key officers to reported complications arising out of COVID-19.

“His contacts in the medical college, teaching hospital, his private hospital, family and community have been traced comprehensively.

He reassured that the state had the capacity to manage cases should there be a spike.

“Still, we should not rest on our laurels. The disease, which is highly contagious, is far from over in our state.

” In fact, we expect a spike in infections soon. With the commissioning of the Mega Laboratory at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka, capable of testing 470 samples for COVID-19 simultaneously.

“There is likely to be a rise in the number of infections. What is more, with the aggressive community search just initiated by the government, there is likely to be an increase in positive cases.” (The Nation)

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