TELL Magazine

The Secretary to the Government of Osun State, Wole Oyebamiji, has tested positive for Covid-19.

The confirmation of his status came from Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, Commissioner for Health, Osun state, on Tuesday.

Isamotu also stated that 10 new cases of Covid-19 have been discovered, while one patient who has been receiving treatment but tested negative has been discharged.

He attributed the current upsurge in recorded cases of Covid-19 to the lukewarm attitude of Osun citizens and residents to the protocols on ways to prevent the virus from spreading.

The Commissioner expressed the fear that community transmission of the virus is already ongoing around Ilesa axis of the state. He then warned that unless citizens and residents change their ways, government might be forced to impose another lockdown on the State.

Isamotu observed that the newly discovered 10 cases were from the contact tracing efforts of the state government, a situation that puts the number of confirmed cases in Osun at 127 while the number of active cases is now 74.

He warned that unless the people of the state take the Covid-19 pandemic seriously by following the protocols for prevention and to guard against transmission , government will be left with no other option than to consider another round of lockdown.

“If you observe, our cases have been on the rise consistently in the last two weeks or so. The reason is simple. Our people are beginning to be too casual about the spread of the virus. The lack of strict adherence to safety protocols and guidelines is one of the main reasons for the rise. As a matter of fact, we are beginning to suspect that we have community transmission around Ilesa axis.”

According to him, “Government is reviewing the cases. Soon, we shall announce other stricter measures to contain the spread of the virus in that axis. Today, we intensified our enforcement drive. All those arrested were made to go through a compulsory course on Covid-19 preventive protocols. We will go a step further by setting up a mobile court to try and sentence violators of safety protocols and guidelines.”

Isamotu assured that the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and some of his staff who tested positive to Covid-19 are in stable condition and getting adequate medical attention.