Coronavirus: Community Transmission Suspected in Ikorodu, as Patient Corpse Tests Positive

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There was pandemonium in some parts of Ikorodu Friday afternoon as report of a dead patient, who allegedly died of the COVID-19 filtered into the community.

Immediately after the confirmation of the case, by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Pharmanewsonline gathered that officials of the NCDC were seen at the General Hospital, Ikorodu, collecting samples from all the healthcare practitioners working at the Emergency Centre (ER).

An official of the GH, Ikorodu, who spoke with our correspondent on the ground of anonymity, confirmed the case and the visit of the NCDC to the secondary healthcare facility to collect samples from staff, who attended to the patient without wearing Personal Protective Equipment, PPE, before his death.

Our reliable source said:” Yes, the test conducted on the dead body of the late patient by the NCDC was confirmed positive, but the patient was put in an isolation room, as he was already suspected for the virus before he finally passed on”.

“Although the incidence is true”, the source added, “but there are a lot of misinformation about the case, because the hospital has taken all necessary steps to prevent a community transmission of the disease, as family members and contacts of the deceased have been rounded up”.

Earlier report from an undisclosed healthcare proffessional at the facility has stated : “A patient was taken to Ikorodu GH in the morning by family members. History and symptoms were consistent for suspected COVID-19 and patient was advised to be taken to IDH for COVID-19 screening.

“Patient was however taken home by relatives, only for them to rush her to the ER the next day in the evening in a very bad shape. Doctors and nurses saw, attended to the patient without PPEs and admitted, while earlier history was concealed by relatives.

“The Doctor that saw the patient the previous day recognized the patient and the name on the folder and told the other doctors what transpired the previous day.

“The patient dies over the night, NCDC were informed and they came and took samples from the deceased. The result came out this morning positive for COVID-19.

“NCDC was at GH, Ikorodu taking samples from all the people that have been working in the ER”, the source stated.

All attempts made to reach the Public Relations Officer of GH, Ikorodu, Mr Olaseni Yekini, proved abortive, as calls made to his phone were not responded to, as at the time of filing the report.

In a similar development, the remains of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, was committed to mother earth at noon today, in Abuja, according to Muslims rites.

The deceased had tested positive to the ravaging COVID-19, and had been receiving treatment. But he died on Friday, 17 April 2020, Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president, media and publicity, revealed through a press release.

Although the statement didn’t disclose his age, but there were divergent views concerning the age of the deceased, as some reported 81, others said he was in his 70s.