As part of measures towards fighting COVID-19, all Secondary Health Institutions in Akwa Ibom State are to set up a holding area for Infectious Disease.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Dominic Ukpong disclosed this Saturday in Uyo, while addressing newsmen shortly after the discharge of 2 COVID-19 patients at the Ibom Multispecialty Hospital.

Dr. Ukpong explained that ideally, every hospital is expected to have a holding area for suspected cases of infectious diseases before being referred to an infectious disease hospital adding that, the new 300 bed isolation center at Ituk Mbang is the referral hospital for such diseases in the State.

The Commissioner noted that the Infectious Disease Hospital at Ikot- Ekpene and the Isolation Center at Ibom Specialty Hospital would continue to be operational while some of the services would be moved to Ituk Mbang.

On the discharge of the two patients, Dr. Ukpong thanked God for yet another success recorded in the management of COVID-19 cases in the State, reiterating that, apart from the two death cases which were brought rather too late, the State has not recorded any other COVID-19 related death.

He emphasized that members of the public with coronavirus symptoms should present themselves immediately for screening and management adding that, the management of COVID-19 in the State is at no cost to the patients as the State Government is taking up every expense.

The Health Boss appealed to members of the public to continue to maintain recommended social and respiratory hygiene while persons in vehicles should ensure the use of face mask as vehicles are enclosed with rather poor ventilation.

Present at the discharge ceremony were members of the case management team led by, Professor Etete Peters, who expressed appreciation to Governor Udom Emmanuel for demonstrating immense passion in the containment of COVID-19 in the State while also thanking the Management and Staff of the Ibom Specialty Hospital for the support given to the case management team.