SUNRISE NEWS, Ekiti, July 22, 2020 There is heightened tension in Ekiti state as Governor Kayode Fayemi confirmed positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Tuesday.
Governor Fayemi who had been earlier tested twice with the results coming out negative, tested positive to the deadly virus following the third clinical test carried out on him.
The governor made this announcement via his official twitter handle @kfayemi on Wednesday, saying he has gone into self- isolation, as part of measures to curb the spread of the pandemic.
Following the development, Fayemi had delegated critical tasks to his Deputy, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, adding that he would, henceforth performs routine duty from home.
The Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) tweeted: “I took my third Covid-19 test yesterday and it came back positive.
“I’m generally ok and I’m already self isolating at home and receiving the best of care from my medical team.
“I’m delegating critical tasks to my Deputy but will continue routine duty from home”.
Confirming the development, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode, said his principal has proceeded on self-isolation.
He disclosed that the governor’s wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi and all the governor’s personal aides have gone for Covid 19 tests.
“The wife of the governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi being the closest to the governor and members of the state executive council , including myself as well as personal aides of His Excellency have submitted ourselves for Covid 19 tests.
“Samples have been taken and we are now expecting the results. But none of us is symptomatic as of now, so no cause for alarm”, Oyebode said.
But, an impeccable source close to the governor told our correspondents that no fewer than 10 immediate governor’s aides have been placed on compulsory self-isolation for a minimum of 14 days following their contact with their principal.
The source said there was tension among the governor’s aides, expressing doubt that they could also have contracted the virus because of the close contact they had had with him.
He stated that the samples of those in isolation have been sent for testing and results were being awaited, adding that the Governor Fayemi is already receiving treatment by his medical team where he is being self-isolated.
Speaking during a Covid-19 Task Force press briefing in Ado Ekiti, Information Commissioner Muyiwa Olumilua, noted the governor will be attending to official duties remotely from home while issues requiring his physical presence will be delegated to his deputy, Bisi Egbeyemi.
“Ordinarily, we are not supposed to do this, because the governor had broken the news on his twitter handle, but as a responsible government , we owe it a duty to do this officially”, he said.
He urged Ekiti people not to panic over the governor’s medical situation, saying “Mr governor is in high spirit and remains asymptomatic as of now”.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mrs Yaya-Kolade, said the molecular laboratory established by government had tested 1,000 persons across five local government areas of the state.
The commissioner added that the state has recorded 86 cases since the breakout of the pandemic out of which 37 are still active.
“During this time, we have also traced over 500 contacts in relation to number of cases we had had,” he said.