Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, has been forced into self-isolation after his cabinet member, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Abe Aku, tested positive for coronavirus.
In a statement on Wednesday by the Commissioner of information, Dan Manjang, the governor directed his cabinet members to undergo the coronavirus test.
Lalong also directed them to proceed on self-isolation immediately after the test for COVID-19, beginning from Wednesday, July 1.
“These directives became imperative following the fact that a member of the state executive council and Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Abe Aku, has tested positive for the virus.
“Based on these directives, specimens of the commissioners are to be taken and forwarded to the COVID-19 laboratory at The National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, for testing.
“During the period and pending the outcome of the results, members of the public are advised not to indulge in unnecessary visits to members of the state executive council while they isolate,” he said.
Lalong re-emphasised his warning against stigmatisation of infected persons, saying “COVID-19 is not a death sentence and only continuous testing will reveal the rate of infection and facilitate treatment to save lives”.
