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Borno State Deputy Governor, Umar Usman Kadafur has cautioned residents of his state not to doubt the existence of coronavirus, even as 16 health workers tested positive for the disease, according to the state health commissioner, Dr. Salisu Kwayabura.
Kadafur, who also doubles as the chairman of the state’s COVID-19 response team, stated this while responding to journalists at a daily Media update on the pandemic held at the government house, Maiduguri, the state capital.
The deputy governor observed that despite the increasing rate of spread of the pandemic, a large number of people in the state do not believe the existence of the virus. ‘It is rather unfortunate that lots of people participated in burial ceremonies and observed congregational prayers against the rules of social distancing,’ he added.
He stated: “When Boko Haram started, a lot people felt it was something not to be taken seriously, until when it consumed everybody. This COVID-19 is another Boko Haram coming, and yet people don’t believe it’s real. I keep saying it’s real. As a response team we’ll continue telling the general public and reaching out with advocacy.”
On Saturday, May 2, Borno recorded six new cases of the virus, out of the 220 new cases reported by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.
While Nigeria has recorded a total of 2,388 infections, Borno State accounts for only 75 of the cases.
