NYSC kicks as report claims 109 corps members tested positive for COVID-19 (updated)

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has reacted to a claim that 109 prospective corps members tested positive for COVID-19.

A report had surfaced on Wednesday that the prospective corps members tested positive for the virus at various orientation camps across the country during the scheme’s compulsory COVID-19 test.

But in a statement by Adenike Adeyemi, NYSC’s director of press and public relations, said there is no recorded case of the virus in orientation camps across the country.

The scheme’s spokesperson added that the report was “misleading” while also stressing the disparity between a corps member and a prospective corps member.

Adeyemi also disclosed that the scheme has put in place necessary measures to ensure those admitted into the various orientation camps do not have the novel disease.

“Management hereby restates that there is no COVID-19 positive corps member in any of the 37 NYSC orientation Camps nationwide,” it read.

“Please, note that before any Prospective Corps Member is admitted into the 37 camps, they must undergo COVID-19 test. Only those that test negative are admitted, the same rule applies to camp officials.

“Those that test positive are handed over to the NCDC for treatment and management.

“One becomes a Corps Member after admittance to the camp, registers and administered the Oath of National Allegiance.

“Anyone mobilised for Service, but has not gone through the aforesaid process is not a Corps Member.”

The spokesperson called on the public to disregard the reported anxiety, adding that there’s no “red alert” in the NYSC camps as alleged.

“In view of the foregoing explanation, there is no red alert in NYSC orientation camps, as all corps members, as well as camp officials admitted in the camps are COVID-19 negative,” it added.

So far, Nigeria has 175,264 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 165,122 recoveries since the pandemic started last year.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This report has been updated to reflect a statement from the NYSC