We Have Four Cases Not Eight, Bauchi Declares

Bauchi State Government has disagreed with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) over new cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) it claimed to have recorded in the state.

On Wednesday, NCDC had reported that Bauchi recorded two new cases in addition to existing six who were receiving treatment. But the deputy governor, Baba Tela, who heads the state’s COVID-19 task force, argued that there was error from state and NCDC, that there was no new case in Bauchi.

“From the samples that were sent to Abuja for testing, two (follow-up) came out positive and were recorded as new ones for us. The mistake was that, it wasn’t tagged as follow-up sample of those who are under treatment.”

However, civil servants in the state have agreed to contribute part of their salaries to support the state government in the ongoing fight against the pandemic.

The conclusion was reached at a meeting with the state’s head of service, permanent secretaries, directors and the leadership of organised labour on Friday April 3, 2020.

According to an agreement signed by the Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Ahmed Ma’aji, and chairmen of labour unions in the state, permanent secretaries and their equivalents will contribute 10 per cent of their salaries from April to June 2020, while directors on levels 16 to 17 will contribute five per cent. Other workers will contribute one per cent.

In Kano, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has raised the alarm over poor compliance to government’s directive to curtail spread of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Yobe State University (YBSU) has embarked on sensitisation and donation of hand sanitisers to host communities.These are in compliance with the state’s COVID-19 preventive committee led by the deputy governor, Alhaji Idi Gubana.

While leading officials of the institution yesterday in Damaturu, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mala Daura, disclosed that the massive sensitisation against coronavirus was part of varsity’s social responsibilities to host communities.

“We have over two dozen communities to serve and support in the fight against the deadly virus that claimed over 86,000 lives globally,” he said.Speaking on behalf of the host communities, Bulama Hussaini commended the university for the support and pledged to make good use of the items.