The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Dr. Sani Aliyu, said on Thursday the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) had deployed 17 personnel to Kano State to support the fight against coronavirus in the state.
Aliyu, who disclosed this during the daily briefing of the task force in Abuja, said additional laboratory equipment were sent to the state on Thursday.
He said: “The PTF has directed and, in line with the directive, the NCDC has already redeployed at least 17 persons, including seven from the WHO, to Kano to deal with the current issues that have arisen.
“In addition, the Director-General, NCDC has worked with the state emergency operating centre to reorganise the way it functions and a joint team, together with that from the state government, is currently investigating the concerns with regard to this.”
The coordinator noted that some states had continued to record a low level of testing.
Aliyu added: “You will not have a case if you have never tested for it.
“We are encouraging the state emergency operating centres to actively look for cases in the community, especially those presenting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or those who have unusual respiratory illnesses in hospitals and actively go out to test these people.
“This is the only way we can interrupt transmission. The earlier we do this, the better overall.”
The Chairman of the task force, Boss Mustapha, in his remarks, said the team had continued to monitor and modify its strategy in states as development unfolds.