COVID-19: Bauchi deputy governor tests positive

Mr Baba Tela, the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, a statement issued by the state government revealed on Wednesday.

Tribune Online reports that the statement, signed by Mr Muktar Gidado, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on media to the state governor, indicated that test by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed the development.

According to the statement, Tela who is also the chairman, State Task Force Committee on COVID-19 was tested after exhibiting noticeable symptoms of the virus, adding that all his primary contacts had been taken for screening.

The statement reads: “This is to inform the general public that His Excellency, Sen. Baba Tela, Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, was confirmed positive for coronavirus.

“The confirmation was sequel to a test carried out on him by NCDC when he exhibited noticeable symptoms of the disease.

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“He contracted the disease while discharging his onerous responsibility as chairman of the the State Committee on COVID-19.

“Consequently, he has gone into self-isolation in Bauchi and health professionals are properly managing his situation.

“Similarly, samples of all his primary contacts have been taken by NCDC for tests and they are advised to remain in isolation pending the outcome of their results,” Gidado said.

Meanwhile, Governor Bala Mohammed has commiserated with his deputy for getting infected with the virus.

The governor solicited for prayers from people of state for the speedy recovery of all those infected by the virus.

The governor also advised citizens of the state to adhere strictly to laid down medical protocols against the virus in order to curtail its spread among the public.

It will be recalled that the deputy governor has been visibly absent from public functions in the past few weeks after he got back from Azare where he had gone to monitor situation in Azare following some mysterious deaths recorded in the area.

On Saturday, May 30, 2020 during the one year anniversary media chat held at the Command Guest House, Bauchi, the governor had apologised on behalf of the deputy for his unavoidable absence from the event, announcing that Baba Tela had taken ill.

Tribune Online reports that Bauchi state, as at Tuesday, June 2, had recorded a total 241 cases of COVID-19, out of which 221 had been discharged while eight had died