No fewer than 27 people in Bauchi state have been placed on compulsory self-isolation for a minimum of 14 days in order to determine their coronavirus status while one person has tested positive.

This was disclosed by the Disease Control Unit of the Ministry of Health in Bauchi state in a circular update obtained by The PUNCH.

According to the update, those placed on the compulsory self-isolation are said to have had previous history of contact to a COVID-19 positive confirmed case.

The update indicated that 4 isolation centres have been created at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Federal Medical Center (FMC), Azare, Specialist Hospital Bauchi and Toro General Hospital.

It also urged members of the general public to imbibe the culture of Hygiene and Hygienic living by always washing their hands with soap and clean water as well as apply hand sanitizers just as they are encouraged to report any symptoms of Lassa fever and COVID-19 to the nearest health facility.

Meanwhile, the Bauchi state government has ordered the immediate closure of all markets across the 20 local government areas of the state.

The is coming on the heels of the report from the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), which disclosed that the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed tested positive to the coronavirus.

The PUNCH reports that the Governor is currently in isolation in Bauchi following the shaking of hands and exchange of pleasantries with the son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during a flight from Lagos to Abuja.

Mohammed Atiku Abubakar had since been confirmed positive for coronavirus by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control.

After the news broke, the Governor released a statement on Monday through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mukhtar Gidado, saying he had gone into isolation.

Gidado, in another statement on Tuesday, said that the NCDC, out of the six samples sent to it from the state, that of Governor Bala Mohammed, tested positive for the coronavirus.

Speaking while addressing a press conference at the Government House Bauchi late Wednesday evening, the Deputy Governor, Senator Baba Tela, said the order takes effect from today (Thursday), March 26th, 2020.

He said that this directive is in line with the earlier decision of the state government which restricted any gathering that is is more than 50 persons to minimize social interaction over the coronavirus pandemic.

Tela who is also the Chairman of the Bauchi State Task Force on Outbreak Response Committee on Lassa Fever and COVID-19 said:

“However, pharmacies, food sellers, supermarkets selling essential products, filing stations and bakeries are to remain open, but they must adhere strictly to Tue instructions given on environmental cleanliness and hygiene to reduce the spread of the virus.

“Similarly, officials of the state chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) are advised to direct their members to observe the rules on passenger conveyance to not more than three persons per vehicle. They are to also provide hand sanitizers to their passengers and to comply with the new policy of social distancing.”

The Deputy Governor said that the Police will be used to enforce compliance with the directive and all defaulters will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.