GOVERNOR KAYODE FAYEMI’S ADDRESS on the THIRD CONFIRMED CASE OF COVID-19 IN EKITI STATE Saturday April 18, 2020. Gentlemen of the Press, 1. I welcome you all to this very important press briefing to update you on Ekiti State present status on COVID-19 and how far we have gone as a State to contain the spread of the pandemic in our dear State.

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GOVERNOR KAYODE FAYEMI’S ADDRESS
on the
THIRD CONFIRMED CASE OF COVID-19 IN EKITI STATE
Saturday April 18, 2020
Gentlemen of the Press,
1. I welcome you all to this very important press briefing to update you on Ekiti
State present status on COVID-19 and how far we have gone as a State to
contain the spread of the pandemic in our dear State.
2. The State recorded its first confirmed index case of Coronavirus or COVID 19
on March 15, 2020 and he was treated and discharged on 31st March, 2020.
3. Barely 24hrs after the first index case was discharged, the State recorded its
second case. He was also discharged on Tuesday, April 9, 2020 after treatment.
4. Sadly, Ekiti State has confirmed a third COVID-19 positive case. This new
case is a pregnant 29-year-old female Community Health Worker in Ikorodu
Lagos State who sneaked into Ekiti State overnight on Friday April, 10 2020
suspectedly to take advantage of our free maternal health care in spite of the
lockdown. She presented at a State Comprehensive Primary Healthcare facility
in active labour on Monday April 13, 2020. After a prolonged labour with fatal
distress, she was referred to a teaching hospital but decided to go to a private
hospital instead. A caesarean section was performed on the patient and the
baby was delivered safely.
5. However, she suffered a cardiac arrest and was referred to the Federal Teaching
Hospital Ido Ekiti where she is currently unconscious. The suspicion of
COVID-19 infection and subsequent testing was at the Federal Tertiary
institution.
6. The Ekiti State COVID-19 Taskforce has already commenced contact tracing
of the new case as at this morning, we have over 30 primary contacts on our
list already. The baby is alive and under surveillance while the private clinic
has been sealed off and medical personnel who interacted with this case during
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2. her obstetrics and gynaecology emergency have been contacted and put in self
isolation. By the time we include secondary and tertiary contacts, this one case
may have put hundreds of unsuspecting people at risk of COVID-19 infection
in Ekiti State.
7. As at today, Ekiti State has had 29 suspected cases, 2 confirmed cases, and 49
contact tracing persons of interest before this new case. Thankfully, all the
contacts traced have not shown any symptoms of infection.
8. This unfortunate incident underscores the reasoning behind our emphasis on
protecting Ekiti State from an outbreak of the pandemic by my directive of
total lockdown of movement. The infidelity of our people and the security
personnel enabled this patient to gain access to our state even during a
boundary shut down, therefore putting the lives of so many people at risk, and
putting Ekiti State under the dreaded possibility of community infection.
9. Due to this new case, Government may have to consider further extension of
the lockdown at least until all possible direct and indirect contacts of this
woman have been traced and placed in self-isolation as minimum period of
incubation is 14 days for every new infection.
10.As widely acknowledged, COVID-19 is spread from person to person. The
three (3) cases so far recorded in Ekiti State were from people who contacted it
elsewhere but incubated and manifested while they were within our state. This
underscore the need for every one of us to respect and accept the lockdown
order and principles of social distancing.
11.The State Government is being proactive to curtail the spread of the virus in
the State. You are all aware that since the first signs of the Coronavirus in
Nigeria, Ekiti State Government started planning preventive, containment and
curative measures in the event of an infection. We have mobilized instruments
and resources to confront what has now become both a health emergency and
an economic crisis.
12.We are already working to increase the bed space of our isolation centre from
10 to 120 beds in case of an exponential outbreak but our best defense against
the deadly disease is still prevention. tAs we speak, COVID-19 has no cure.
Though I am aware that Scientists around the world are working very hard to
develop a vaccine to combat the virus.
13.Reports of total disregard of the preventive directives especially at our
boundary towns is very discouraging. The wellbeing and protection of Ekiti-
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3. kete is my priority and these measures were introduced to keep everyone safe
and we will not hesitate to enforce and punish further violations of these
directives in the collective interest of the State and its residents. Two days ago,
my brother Governors and I in the Southwest agreed on total lockdown of inter
state transportation except for those on clearly designated essential duties. I
just finished a meeting with all our security chiefs and they have clear
instructions on what to do with those who flout the lockdown directives.
14.We are fully aware that such measures will cause some hardship and
inconvenience to many citizens. But this is a matter of life and death, if we
look at the dreadful daily toll of deaths in some countries and even the
increasing rate of the virus in Nigeria. As I am sure, many of you are now
aware, I lost a very dear friend early this morning and those who are taking this
lightly should note it is not a joke!
15.We are not unmindful of the citizens whose livelihoods will surely be affected
by some of these restrictive measures, we have deployed and will continue to
deploy relief materials to ease their pains. Food Bank Packs from the State
Government and Conditional Cash Transfer from the Federal Government are
some of the measures we using to cushion the effect of the COVID 19 on our
people.
16.I also call on all well-meaning individuals, Corporate Bodies and Non-
Governmental Organisations to support those who are vulnerable within the
State, helping them with whatever they may need.
17.Ekiti-kete, as a Government, we will avail all necessary resources to support
the response and recovery. We remain committed to do whatever it takes to
confront COVID-19 in our State.
18.We are very grateful to see the emerging support of the private sector and
individuals to the response as well as our development partners. I sincerely
thank our Baba, the Grand Patron the Resources Mobilisation Committee, Aare
Afe Babalola, Chief ‘Wole Olanipekun, Architect Dipo Ajayi, Chief Bayo
Awosemusi and all others who have channelled their resources to fight the
coronavirus in our dear State.
19.I will therefore implore you again to strictly comply with the guidelines issued
and also do your bit to support Government and the most vulnerable in your
communities.
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4. 20.I use this opportunity to commend all our public health workforce, health care
workers, Security agencies and other essential staff on the frontlines of the
response for their dedication and commitment. We are still not there as more
are expected from us all. Together we can fight and win the deadly virus.
21.Gentlemen of the Press, I thank you all for listening.
Dr. Kayode Fayemi, CON
Governor
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