The Periscope reporter
Another COVID-19 case is being confirmed in Adamawa state. The COVID-19 victim, being the second confirmed case in the state Medical Doctor in a public hospital in Mubi lacal government area, northern senatorial district of the state.
Confirming the second case in a statewide address Tuesday, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has made the use of face mask compulsory in the state.
“At this point, I hereby declare that the wearing of mouth and nose mask is compulsory for all citizens whenever they go out and in all public functions.
“Our Disease Surveillance Officers are in all the Communities and they are there to serve you,” Fintiri has said.
Fintiri noted that the new case being not connected to the first index case, presented another difficult challenge in the management of the disease as fear of community infection heightened.
“What is striking about this case, is the fact that it is not linked to the index case.
“Last week, we sent 8 samples to Abuja. 5 were direct contacts of the index case as traced; while 3 were new suspicious cases who were showing symptoms.
“Having additional case in the state is truly worrisome. More disturbing is the fact that the victim is a Medical Doctor in one of our hospitals in Mubi, who must have had contact with many people in the course of discharging his duties lawfully.
“This indeed places on our shoulder, a herculean task of contact tracing, which is not only tedious but strenuous.
“While the contact tracing is no doubt daunting, more scaring is the fact that we may be sliding into the most dangerous phase of the pandemic, which is community transmission of the virus.
“It is on note that our index case is a returnee from Kano; and therefore we are certain of how the disease was couriered into the state.
“But when the case is a doctor, resident in a public hospital with access to colleagues and countless patients, the level of community infection can best be imagined.
“Fellow citizens, this calls for both caution and action. It reinforces the need to stay safe and adhere to the pandemic prevention and management etiquette.
“Stay at home; if you must go out, wear your mouth and nose mask; uphold personal and environmental hygiene; avoid overcrowding; maintain social and physical distancing; be vigilant and raise alarm whenever you notice any symptom on a neighbor, a family member or yourself.
“This will go a long way in early detection and possible isolation, where necessary.
At this point in time, what is required is care not fear. Hope not despair,” he said.