Breaking: Benue governor, Ortom, tests positive for COVID-19

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has tested positive for the dreaded COVID-19, his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, said on Wednesday.

The governor’s aides including his personal physician, aide de camp, orderly and permanent secretaries have tested positive for the virus.

Akase in a statement in Makurdi said that “the latest result of his (governor Ortom) COVID-19 test has returned positive.

“This follows the test results of most of the Governor’s close aides who also returned positive in the last few weeks.

“Though the governor has not shown any symptoms of the disease, he has already commenced treatment as prescribed by medical personnel.

The statement added that the governor advised those who have come in contact with him in the last couple of days to go for test.

“The governor says it is equally important that those who came in contact with other persons who have tested positive for the virus should go for a test to ascertain their COVID-19 status.

Akase said that the governor urged Benue people to continue to observe the safety protocol for the prevention of the virus such as wearing of face masks, use of sanitisers, regular hand washing and physical distancing.

He also urged the people not to be afraid of going for COVID-19 test as only doing so would help in containing the spread of the disease.