Oyo State has recorded its first case of coronavirus as confirmed in a statement released by Governor Seyi Makinde, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 23 (2 have been discharged).

Governor Makinde disclosed that public health officials are collaborating with the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan’s team on the first case of COVID-19 in the state.

He also revealed that another US returnee identified at Oluyole Local Government Area of the state, has been kept in self-isolation with close monitoring by the State Epidemiological Team.

The statement reads;

“The COVID-19 confirmation test for the suspected case at Bodija has come back POSITIVE. The result was released at 17:35 PM of March 21, 2020,” he said.

“A follow up on the Ekiti COVID-19 case revealed that the deceased was picked up directly from Lagos Airport to a private apartment in Ona Ara Local Government Area.

“The Health Authorities have contacted the family concerned and the community has been alerted for intensified contact tracing and self-isolation of identified close contacts. The information given that he stayed in some hotels in Ibadan has been found to be false.

“Another returnee from Texas, USA, has also been identified at Oluyole Local Government Area. She has been kept in self-isolation with close monitoring by the State Epidemiological Team. All recent returnees are again urged to identify themselves to Ministry Officials and self-isolate for 14 days.

“We have released funds for: a. Activation of Emergency Operation Centre at the Ministry of Health; establishment of Diagnostic Centre for screening of Coronavirus and other related infectious diseases to be stationed at the UCH, Ibadan; equipping of the newly designated Oyo State Infectious Disease Centre at Olodo that has the capacity for over 100 cases.”