Drama As Akwa Ibom Rejects Coronavirus Results, Asks NCDC To Conduct Fresh Tests

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The Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected the test results of the five coronavirus cases announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Wednesday night, The Nation reports.

It fingered irregularities in the testing process and thereby called on the Centre to conduct another round of tests forthwith.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the government said all the fives cases reported to have tested positive for COVID-19 were yet to show any symptom of the virus.

It alleged that the NCDC Director-General, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, was not aware of the results before the announcement.

The statement read, “We observed a disturbing breach in the test and reporting procedure. Akwa Ibom State Government only heard about the test results in the news

“The Director-General of NCDC was not aware of the reported result announcement.

“All five reported positive test cases have been contacted and they have shown no COVID-19 symptoms.

“While the tests were being processed in NCDC-approved test facilities, all suspected cases were held in isolation.

“Several sample batches have been previously sent for testing from Akwa Ibom State and they all returned negative results.

“Owing to the irregularities observed in the testing and reporting procedure, Health Care Professionals in Akwa Ibom State have called for an immediate reconfirmation test on the five reported cases.”