* Ikpeazu

Tests carried out within a week on Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has returned positive.

Narrating the sequence of events leading to the governor being confirmed positive, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, the State Commissioner for Information in a press release stated:

"Recall that on Saturday, 30th May, 2020, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu volunteered his sample for COVID-19 test and subsequently directed members of the state Executive Council (EXCO) and those of the inter ministerial committee on COVID-19 to submit themselves for the same test. On Tuesday, 2nd June, 2020, the result  of Governor Ikpeazu’s test returned  negative. (It will be recalled that two of the governors' aides tested positive during the May 30, 2020 tests) 

"On Thursday, 4th June, 2020, the Governor submitted another sample at the Nigeria Center For Disease Control (NCDC) laboratory for confirmation and the result returned positive".

Kalu confirmed that Gov Ikpeazu has gone into isolation, as required by relevant NCDC protocols, and he is being managed by a competent team of medical practitioners with a view to nursing him back to good health. 

The governor also handed over to his Deputy,  Hon Ude Oko Chukwu, to act on his behalf pending his full resumption of duties. 

According to the latest figures from the NCDC, the number of the corona virus infection has risen to 67. The Commissioner attributed the development to 'massive  testing with hundreds of samples' describing the infections as 'community' infections.

Kalu further urged all Abians to take the fight against COVID-19 serious as the disease is real but not a death sentence, maintaining that the state has the resources to manage patients back to good health.