Barely 24 hours after the Cross River State Governor, Sen. Ben Ayade, his Deputy, Prof. Ivara Esu and members of his cabinet were seen in pictures, shared by media aides to the governor and celebrating the zero-corona virus status of the state, the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) has announced that 5 samples collected by the hospital, and tested for Covid19 returned positive.
This was contained in an internal memo seen by our correspondent, dated 3rd July 2020, and signed by Prof. Ikpeme A. Ikpeme, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Hospital.
The memo titled “UCTH STAFF HEALTH ADVISORY: RE: COVID-19 PANDEMIC” reads in part; “The management of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital wishes to inform her staff and patients that COVID-19 test performed on 5 samples from our hospital returned positive. Two of these samples came from our medical staff. These staff have since made tremendous progress along the path of recovery and are doing well.
“The tests were performed using the PCR technique at the NCDC accredited laboratory at Alex Ekweme University Teaching Hospital, Abakiliki.”
The letter further reads that the Cross River State Government and other agencies of government have been duly informed and reassured staff and patients that the hospital has everything under control and the virus is not a death sentence.
Calls put across to the State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Betta Edu were not picked.
