Coronavirus scourge Imo State Government, Lawmakers Tests Positive.

The Imo State Government has announced that 13 more lawmakers of the State’s House of Assembly have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).

The spokesman for the State Task Force on COVID-19, Chinedu Iwuala, confirmed this to the media on Tuesday.

This brings to 14, the total number of lawmakers in the state who have tested positive to COVID-19.

Iwuala added that the infected lawmakers have gone into self-isolation and the State Assembly Complex in Owerri has remained shut since the first lawmaker was diagnosed with the virus.

Recall that The Street Journal had reported that activities of the Imo State House of Assembly was put on hold as the assembly had been shut down after three of the lawmakers had allegedly tested positive for Coronavirus.

The Speaker of the Assembly house, Hon. Chiji Collins announced shutdown of activities for 2 weeks.

However, the chairman of the state’s task force on COVID-19, Professor Maurice Iwu, said samples of all other lawmakers and their aides had been taken to the laboratory for testing to ascertain if anyone of them had been further infected with the virus.

”The House of Assembly will be shut for two weeks to enable us fumigate the place and also to allow members to be on self-isolation until we know whether they are COVID-19 positive or negative” he said

He said that samples of the other 26 legislators and their aides have been taken for testing.

The task-force chairman also announced the death of a woman, who died of the virus shortly after being delivered of a set of twins at a hospital in Owerri.

“Currently, we registered one death of a lady who successfully delivered a set of twins.

“Also, we have a positive case from the state assembly as such have to collect samples from all house members and their aides.

“Also, the House of Assembly is to be shut down for two weeks to fumigate the place following a laid down strategic plan,” he said.

Iwu further explained that the team had embarked on enhanced screening of people to know if they had Severe Acute Respiratory Symptom (SARS).