Panic in Sapele over suspected COVID-19 case, patient abandoned by relatives

By Ovasa Ogaga,

Residents of Yoruba road in Sapele, Delta State were yesterday thrown into panic following the news of a suspected case of COVID-19 in the area.

The suspected case our reporter who visited the area report is a middle-aged man abandoned in a makeshift home by his relatives who had suspected that he has the novel coronavirus.

ADVOCATE gathered that the man came in from Lagos a few days ago, however, his relatives stayed away from him for fear of been infected when they noticed that he was having difficulty in breathing.

According to a source who spoke to us in confidence said: “the man was brought back from Lagos a few days ago and was left in the car for days, however when his presence in the vehicle was beginning to raise dust, he was moved to a house built with wood and left there before we noticed his condition and raised alarm.

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“When the news got across to a community leader Chief Newumi Omolubi, he dashed down to where the patient is and sent for the man’s relatives, who denied their brother’s illness was a case of coronavirus but said it was a result of violent heart problem” the source narrated.

Omolubi was said to have provided cash for the man’s relatives to move him to the hospital.

When Dr Ben Ogbimi, the Medical Director, Central Hospital, Sapele could not be reached as at press time but Dr Kingsley Abeke, Secretary, Sapele Primary Health Care admitted though he was told he was yet to see the patient “so I can’t confirm if his, was actually a case of COVID 19.

However, the Sapele local government chairman, Hon Eugene Inoaghan assured residents of the town of their safety adding that the government is doing everything to curb the novel virus.