A lawmaker in Rivers State, Prince Christy-Wilcox has called on the people of Bonny Local Government Area to volunteer themselves for testing for COVID-19 in order to be sure of their status and where they test positive they can access treatment early enough.

Christy-Wilcox, who is the Councillor representing Ward 9 in the Bonny Local Government Legislative Assembly, said that COVID_19 was not a death sentence as evidence abounds that persons who initially tested positive after receiving treatment had tested negative.  

“I just got the information this morning that NCDC team are here in Bonny to take samples for COVID-19. So, I’m just here to volunteer to clear the air and for us to be aware.’

“What I want to say is that this is worth doing because actually COVID-19 is not a death sentence.”

He affirmed the need for people to know their COVID-19 status as this would aid their health seeking lifestyle.

“It is better for us to actually know what is happening. I will advise and encourage that people should put themselves up for test and let us actually know.”

“It will be better if you know you are positive and immediately they will start treatment. And like I said before it is not a death sentence.”

The NCDC team arrived Bonny this morning to start contact tracing for the two positive cases from the initial sample tests done, collect more samples from volunteers and also carry out assessments on the COVID-19 treatment equipment at the Bonny Isolation Centre.

Recently, there has been a spike in outpatient visits to various medical facilities in Bonny with complaints of loss of sense of smell and taste, among other symptoms.

After a critical assessment of the situation, the Bonny Doctors Forum reached out to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Professor Princewill Chike for intervention and a team led by Prof. Chike visited Bonny to collect samples from volunteers.