Ondo records two more COVID-19 deaths, as discharged journalist claims he was never infected

Ondo State government has confirmed that two additional COVID-19 deaths were recorded in the state on Thursday.

The State Commissioner of Health, Dr Wahab Adegbenro, who confirmed this said the two patients died at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Akure.

According to him, the two patients were said to be over 60 years with underlying health challenges before contracting the virus.

With the new development, the deaths recorded in the state has risen from seven deaths to nine.

Meanwhile, a journalist who was reported to have contracted COVID-19 has denied being infected with the deadly virus, urging the public to ignore information that he tested positive for coronavirus.

Speaking after he was discharged from the IDH, the 33-year-old reporter with a radio station in the state, explained that he had malaria and was treated without having any traces of COVID-19 symptoms.

He said he had recovered from the malaria about three weeks ago before he was picked up during a contact tracing of a patient in Ore, headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.

He said he was confirmed negative by the NCDC personnel who conducted a test on him, but said the authorities decided to hold him at the facility without any reason

He confirmed that chloroquine and Vitamin C were administered on him during his stay at the IDH

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Adegbenro, however, described the journalist’s claim as false stressing that the state government has nothing to gain by lying about his health status.

Adegbenro disclosed that when the samples were first taken, they returned positive from the molecular testing centre in Ede, Osun and warned the journalist to desist from spreading falsehood as it could hinder the fight against the virus.

The health commissioner disclosed that anti-retroviral drugs were being administered on patients at the IDH as against the Vitamin C and chloroquine claim of the journalist.

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