Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
The State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu,on Wednesday disclosed that the index case of coronavirus that was announced in the state on Monday, is the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye.
Shaibu, stated this in Benin while speaking with journalists after his meeting with the technical committee set up to monitor the spread of the disease.
He said the index case of coronavirus in the state, is the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Frank Okiye. According to him, “Okiye travelled to United Kingdom, when he came back, he went into self-isolation and sent his sample for test and it came out positive,”
He added that the speaker’s wife and daughter tested negative to the virus. Speaking on Governor Godwin Obaseki’s self-isolation, Shaibu said since the governor came back from Abuja, he has avoided direct contact with others.
“He has maintained social distance, refused to shake hands with people, even before the issue of contact with the Chief of Staff who tested positive came out. Since he returned from Abuja, he has refused to shake hands with any of us. But, one or two persons that he had close contact with have also been tracked,” he said.
Shaibu disclosed that about 64 percent of the 111 persons being tracked have been contacted, six of them already been isolated while five have sent samples for test. He assured that the State government has taken adequate steps to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in the State. “The state government has bought 40 drums of hand sanitizers and will be distributed across local government areas, palaces and other public centres.
He said the state will maintain the restriction on gatherings of persons above 20, markets remain closed, except for those selling essential commodities such as food and medicine among others. Shaibu charged security agencies to monitor compliance with the order as it is for public safety.
