Nigerian state governor tests positive

The governor of Nigeria’s Abia State has tested positive for coronavirus and has gone into isolation.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s sample returned a positive test on 4 June, according to an official quoted by local media.

The governor is reported to have directed his deputy to act on his behalf as he undergoes treatment.

The south-eastern state has 83 out of about 12,400 confirmed coronavirus cases in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, on April 2020, had tested positive and died shortly after contracting the deadly coronavirus.

The initial six-week lockdown, which ended on June 1, has been replaced with a second phase–four-week lockdown from June 2-29.

New regulations imposed included the ban on gatherings of not more than 20 people outside of workplace, managed access to markets and locations of economic activity.

Also, mandatory use of face masks, provision of sanitizers and hand washing facilities must be provided in public places.

Isolation of those with underlying medical conditions, and ban on inter-state travel continues except for movement of agricultural produce, petroleum products, manufactured goods and essential services.