By BASSEY ANTHONY, Uyo

There is palpable fear among journalists in Akwa Ibom as no fewer than 10 Government House press corps members are rumoured to be COVID-19 positive.

Our correspondent gathered at the weekend a camera man in the press crew allegedly exhibited coronavirus symptoms.

There are at least 25 journalists and camera men in the Akwa Ibom Government House press corps.

A blogger with the All Progressives Congress (APC) had alleged some Commissioners in Governor Udom Emmanuel’s cabinet were Covid-19 positive, which the government denied.

It was feared the camera man and other suspected cases among the press corps must have had contacts with Government officials said to have been infected.

However, the rumour gathered steam on Sunday when some journalists, particularly correspondents of some national dailies, were invited for contacting tracing by the Ibom Multispecialty Hospital, Uyo.

The Nation learnt that journalists invited for contact tracing and possible testing are those who have been actively attending press briefings at the Government House and interacted with the said camera man.

At the time of filing this report, two correspondents of national dailies (name withheld) confided in our correspondent they have been invited for contact tracing.

One of the correspondents posted on his Facebook wall: “Just received a call from Ibom Multispecialty hospital that I am being contact traced for Covid-19 “.

When contacted the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ekerete Udoh, denied any Covid-19 case in the Government House Press crew.

He said: “Why do you want to write such a story? That rumour is completely unfounded. It is not true”. (The Nation)

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