Another 35 corps members test positive for Covid-19 at Ogun NYSC Orientation Camp
Amid denials by the Management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that no corps member has tested positive for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) infection, the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, has confirmed that over 35 corpers at its Orientation Camp in Sagamu, have tested positive for the virus.
The latest confirmation follows that by the Niger State Commissioner Information and Strategy, Mohammed Sani Idris, on Wednesday, who said that 18 NYSC Members have tested positive for Covid-19.
The Ogun State Commissioner, Coker who disclosed this, Thursday, while briefing newsmen on the upsurge of the third wave of Covid – 19 in the state, said some of the corps members have been confined to the isolation centers, while others are on home management.
“The number of NYSC members who have tested positive is 35. Some are on home management, while the rest are in the isolation center,” she said.
The Commissioner expressed concerns that Ogun has continued to witness a rise in Covid-19 cases since the beginning of August, with at least 7 to 16 cases per day.
“Ogun State has continued to record a rise in the number of COVID 19 cases, with a 6 fold increase in admissions into the isolation centre compared to what was recorded 2 months earlier, ” she said.
“In the month of June 2021, there were only two cases giving a positivity rate of 0.04% while the month of July had a sharp rise of 96 cases with positivity rate of 7.4 per cent.
“The first 3 days in the month of August have also seen a rise in positivity rate of 14.6%. Isolation WARD at OOUTH which had only 2 admissions in June currently has 12 persons on admission whilst isolation ward at Ikenne has 35 admissions with 71 on home management.
“Death rates had remained relatively static at 50 till July 15 after which we recorded 7 deaths in the last two weeks. “
In the last one week, there has been a sharp rise in new cases from 7 per day to 16 per day.”
Dr Coker also lamented that only a small fraction of the state’s population had been vaccinated, as she urged residents to embrace vaccination.
Meanwhile, NYSC management had earlier, Wednesday, stated that there is no COVID-19 positive Corps member in any of its Orientation Camps nationwide.
A statement signed by the NYSC Director, Press and Public Relations, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi in Abuja, Wednesday, explained that all prospective corps member must undergo COVID-19 test before being admitted into any of the camps nationwide.
“Only those that tested negative are admitted, the same rule applies to camp officials. Those that test positive are handed over to the NCDC for treatment and management.
The statement reads: ”Attention of the NYSC Management have been drawn to a story with the caption ‘ NYSC CAMPS ON RED ALERT AS 109 TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19’ making the rounds in both the mainstream and news media.
”Management wishes to state that the caption and body of the story are very misleading.
”It is pertinent to state that there is a gulf of difference between a corps member and a prospective corps member.
”One becomes a corps member after admittance to the camp, he/she registers and is administered the Oath of National Allegiance.
”Anyone, who is mobilised for service, but has not gone through the aforesaid process is not yet a corps member.
”Consequently, our partners-in-progress and members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm should kindly take note of this explanation for proper guidance in reportage.”
The NYSC assured Nigerians that all corps members, as well as camp officials admitted into the camps are all COVID-19 negative.
