Kano State on Saturday 11th April 2020, confirmed a first case of the coronavirus in the state, as the government identified a 75-year-old Ex-Ambassador as the index case.
In a statement released a few hours ago by the Kano State Government, Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje disclosed the sad news at a press briefing at the Government House, Kano.
With the first confirmed case, the Governor assured that business would not be as usual regarding social distancing and all other measures against the spread of the virus.
Governor Ganduje disclosed that the index case, “a 75-year-old retiree, and Ex-Ambassador, who travelled to Kaduna, Abuja and Lagos, came back to Kano on 25th March and was not feeling fine for the last few days. He voluntarily invited our medical team, who took his blood sample alongside other nine samples.”
“After the sample was returned, he wad found to be positive while the other nine were negative. It is therefore confirmed today that we have a positive case of COVID-19 in Kano. He has no history of travelling abroad in the last six weeks but his medical report shows that he has heart problem which aggravated his case,” he said.
The Governor added that, “he is currently at our Kwanar Dawaki Isolation Centre receiving all the necessary attention. We are now tracing all his contacts and taking their samples for tests.”
All the samples so far taken, according to the Governor, are taken to the just commissioned Kano Testing Centre at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.
Governor Ganduje has also ordered the immediate closure of the private hospital and diagnosis facility the Ex-Ambassador went.
Speaking in a very firm and determined tone, Governor Ganduje warned that, “members of the public should know that it is now not business as usual! Movement must be restricted. Tricycle operators must take only one passenger!
On Friday Prayers and markets, he revealed that meetings with Ulama and market leaders would hold soon to reach decision noting that, “we must take measures that are absolutely necessary, however hard they appeared to be.”
While urging people to observe social distancing, regular hand washing and all other medical advice,
he assured that, “as have all the protective items for our frontline health workers, we are also looking at some special packages for our frontline, Doctors, Nurses and Lab Technicians among others.”