Eight corps members have tested positive for COVID-19 at the National Youth Service Corps orientation camps at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Anambra and Kano States.
The corps members were mobilised for the orientation camps nationwide last week. Daily Trust learnt that five corps members in the NYSC camp in the FCT, two in Kano and one in Anambra State tested positive.
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Speaking on Monday in Abuja, at the swearing-in ceremony of 853, 2020 Batch B Stream 1A corps members into the Kubwa camp, the coordinator, NYSC, FCT, Hajiya Walida Siddique Isa, said the five cases of COVID-19 were detected during the screening process of corps members who resumed at the FCT orientation camp at Kubwa.
She said immediately they were detected, they were disallowed from going ahead with their registration and handed over to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control for further attention and treatment.
A corps member, who spoke to Daily Trust, Olusegun Adeboye, said there was no cause for panic, adding that he was satisfied with the safety measures put in place by the scheme.
In Kano State, two corps members out of the 826 posted to the state tested positive for COVID-19, the state’s coordinator of the NYSC, Hajiya Aisha Tata, confirmed.
The coordinator, who stated this on Monday while briefing newsmen after the swearing-in of the 2020 Batch ‘B’ Stream l A corps members in the state’s camp in Karaye, said the corps members were tested immediately upon arrival at the orientation camp and that they were taken to relevant facilities for further medical investigation.
Similarly in Anambra State, out of 800 corps members deployed for the 2020 Batch ‘B’ Stream 1 A one-year mandatory service, one member tested positive for the COVID-19.
This was disclosed by the state’s coordinator of the NYSC, Kehinde Aremu, after the swearing-in of the 2020 Batch ‘B’ Stream l A corps members deployed to the state at the permanent orientation camp, Umuawulu/Mbaukwu in Awka North Local Government Area.
He said the only corps member had been handed over to the state government for necessary action.
He said all arrangements in the camp were made according to the NCDC COVID-19 protocols.
The spokesperson of the Oyo State NYSC, Mrs Christy Olatoye, also confirmed that tests have been done but there was no case of COVID-19 recorded among the 887 corps members in Osun that were mobilised in the state.
Similarly in Plateau State, no corps member tested positive for the COVID-19 during the Batch B Stream 1A orientation exercise held at Jakatai, in Mangu Local Government Area of the state according to the Commissioner of Health, Nimkong Larndam.
In Bayelsa State, Mr Matthew Ngobua, spokesman for the NYSC, said none of the corps member or camp officials tested positive for COVID-19 during the ongoing orientation camp for 2020 the Batch B, Stream 1A at the camp in Kaiama, Kolokuma/Opokuma local government.
Also in Nasarawa State, the Coordinator of the NYSC, Mr Steven Dewan said, “Nobody has been tested and confirmed to be positive of COVID-19.”
In Niger State, all 620 corps members posted for the Batch B Stream 1 NYSC tested negative to all COVID-19 tests run on them.
The state coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs Funmilayo Ajayi, disclosed this during the opening ceremony of the Batch B Stream 1 orientation course.
However, Director, Public Relations Unit, NYSC, Adenike Adeyemi, in a statement yesterday, said no corps member in any of the NYSC camps was COVID-19 positive.
She said the NYSC was collaborating with the NCDC which maintained a very strong presence in all NYSC camps nationwide.
She said: “as a proactive measure, all prospective corps members were tested for COVID-19 before being admitted into the camps. Those that tested positive were handed over to the NCDC for treatment and management.
“Accordingly, the general public was assured that the 37 camps of the scheme are safe as COVID- 19 safety protocols are strictly adhered to.
“There is no cause for alarm. Both the scheme and NCDC are up to the task of safeguarding the lives of corps members and camp officials.”
Expert’s view
The chief consultant physician and pulmonologist in Gwarinpa General Hospital, Abuja, Dr Ndubuisi Onuoha, said camp exercise should continue in spite of the recorded cases among corps members.
He said social distancing, handwashing, use of face mask and sanitiser should be adhered to at the camps.
Onuoha also advised that the number of corps members should be reduced so that they can practice social distancing and they must check the way their beds are arranged to make sure they are distanced enough.
He added that if there was availability of funds, the government should provide more camps so that the crowd will be reduced.
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