Policeman Dies Of Coronavirus In Ogun State, Govt Raises Doctors’ Hazard Allowance

Ogun State has recorded a death incident of a policeman in the state who died after contacting coronavirus, as his name has not been mentioned.

The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Ogun State, yesterday recorded the death of a policeman (names withheld) to coronavirus.

The death of the police officer brings to two deaths recorded within a week in the hospital.

According to The Guardian, a pregnant woman and another male patient were tested positive last Saturday at the facility and the pregnant woman died while awaiting her test result.

Head, Public Relations and Information of the hospital, Segun Orisajo, who confirmed the incident to The Guardian yesterday, said: “The Centre has recorded the death of a patient who tested positive for coronavirus.

“The deceased, a policeman, presented himself at the General Out-patients Department of the hospital about three days ago.

“He later died same day. The result of his test returned this morning positive.

“His body is being prepared for release to his family for burial in strict compliance with World Health Organisations (WHO) guidelines.

“All members of staff who came in contact with the deceased are currently on self-isolation.”

Meanwhile, life insurance policy has been put in place for the Ogun State health workers, just as their hazard allowance has been reviewed from 200 to 300 per cent.

Governor Dapo Abiodun disclosed this when he met with representatives of the health workers in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

According to him, the life policy would have taken off immediately, but would wait to go along with the Federal Government, which is also putting in place similar programme.

Abiodun, who noted that his administration was determined to provide adequate healthcare services to the people, also said that health workers would be appropriately accommodated in the new minimum wage.

Representative of the health workers, Dr. Femi Odubote, lauded the state government for addressing their concerns, as all contending issues were adequately trashed out.

He added that they would continue to do their best in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and other health challenges in the state.

In another development, Ogun State has recorded an astronomical increase in the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus.

The governor stated this at the weekend during his briefing on the activities of state government to curb the spread of the pandemic.

“The number of confirmed cases in Ogun State has risen to more than double. As of Thursday, May 7, 2020, we had 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ogun State. Twenty of them have been discharged to re-join their respective families and restart normal life.

“Unfortunately, we have recorded a total of two deaths. This leaves us with 78 active cases that are currently receiving efficient treatment at our treatment centres,” he said.

Abiodun, however, re-assured the people that there was no reason for panic.

In a similar vein, another new case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Osun State.

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, in a statement at the weekend said that the latest Coronavirus case had brought the number of active cases in the state to three.

The statement noted that the new case sneaked in from Kano State to Iwo area of the state before his neighbours alerted the Osun COVID-19 team.