Covid-19: Health Commissioner allays fear on another lockdown in Delta

Delta State Commissioner for Health , Dr Mordi Ononye has allayed the fear of Deltans on another lockdown in the State.

Speaking during a press briefing held in Asaba recently, Dr Mordi said “ there will be no fear for another lockdown if people are doing what is needful to contain the spread of covid-19 in the State”.

Mordi who was flanked by his Ministry of Information counterpart, Mr Charles Aniagwu and the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health, Dr Minnie Oseji, emphasized that compliance to preventive measures is the only way to contain spread of the disease.

He said, “I encourage all to observe all the publicised prevention protocols of hand and respiratory hygiene, use of face masks, social and physical distancing”.

Responding to the question on reason for increased in number of confirmed cases of the disease, he said “In the beginning, we took our samples to Irrua Teaching Hospital, which is designated to serve the South-South.

“You are aware that we have in collaboration with Irrua Teaching Hospital and PANDORA, opened a Molecular laboratory at Asaba Specialist Hospital, Asaba, and this has greatly boosted our testing capacity and improved our turn-around time from sample collection to results.”

The Health commissioner also disclosed that 2,557 health workers have been captured for life insurance to serve incentive for their fight against the coronavirus disease.
“The state has also taken life Insurance for 2,557 health workers to motivate them. I commend them for their selfless efforts so far and urge them to do more for Deltans”. He said.

“My sincere appreciation to the Rapid Response Team from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the COVID-19 team, the State Ministry of Information, Directorate of Orientation, the Secretary to the State Government and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for their unrelenting support and selfless efforts in the containment of COVID-19 disease in Delta,” Ononye added.
While thanking the media for their role in fighting the pandemic, the Commissioner for Information encouraged everyone to adhere to established protocol against the disease.