Report alleging that a first case of the dreaded corona virus has emerged at a private health facility in Rivers State, has turned out to be fake.
The management of Prime Medical Centre in Eliada Estate (cocaine estate), Rumuogba, in Rivers State, where the said coronavirus infected patient had visited, issued a statement on March 12, describing the rumuor as the handiwork of mischief makers, and fake news purveyors.
In a statement titled, “Public Information on COVID-19 Rumuors”, signed by the Clinical Director, Dr Gabriel Ominyi, Prime Medical Consultants, said that the rumour was “a gross mis-representation” of the fact, adding that “The said patient presented to us requested to be tested for COVID-19.
Since we do not have the required equipment for conducting the test, we referred him to the Public Health Department of UPTH where the test could be arranged for him.
It is, therefore, not a case of us making a diagnosis of COVID-19, and sending him to the teaching hospital as purported in that post.
“We have a protocol in place for identifying suspected cases, and what to do if we suspect a case”, the clinical director added.
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