Bayelsa State has recorded its first confirmed case of COVID-19.

Dr Inodu, Akpoku, Chairman Bayelsa COVID-19 Task Force implementation Committee, confirmed the development in a telephone interview on Monday morning. He assured that there is no cause for alarm as the state is adequately prepared to handle the situation.

Akpoku said that the index case, a woman has been quarantined at one of the several isolation centres put in place by Bayelsa government to tackle the corona virus outbreak.

He said that the government was preparing a detailed statement which would be made public shortly.

“We have recorded one case and she is a woman and she has been moved to the isolation centre at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH) at Okolobiri in Yenagoa LGA.

“There is absolutely no need for panic because the Bayelsa State Government is adequately prepared for this, we have at least three isolation centres and well trained medical professionals to tackle the pandemic.

“We appeal to the people to take their personal hygiene more seriously and we have emphasised the use of face masks by residents in addition to other protocols put in place by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control.

“In addition, people should ensure they take more of fruits and vegetables in their diet as it boosts the human immune system to ward off the virus, that is why the fatality rate is higher in old people.

“In addition to complying with the hygiene protocols, good nutrition is also recommended,” he said

It is recalled that the NCDC had at 11:50 p.m. listed the one case in Bayelsa as one of the 91 new cases of the COVID-19.