COVID-19: Kano records 20 positive cases at NYSC camp

At least 20 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have tested positive for COVID-19 in Kano.

A source at the NYSC orientation camp in the Karaye LGA of the state broke the news to TheCable Lifestyle on Wednesday.

About 1,900 corps members had been deployed to Kano for their orientation course as part of the batch ‘B’ stream one set on July 27.

It was gathered that the affected Kano corps members were detected during the ongoing orientation exercise.

According to the source, the affected persons were screened at the point of entry and tested positive.

The positive cases, mobilised from their respective institutions, were subsequently taken to an isolation centre.

When contacted, Hajia Aisha Tata, the Kano state NYSC coordinator, denied any such situation. She insisted that the information is false but Tijjani Hussain, the state coordinator for COVID-19, confirmed the development.

Although Tijjani was not specific on the number of cases recorded, the doctor told journalists that Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) conducted screening and detected the cases that have since been taken into isolation.

Addressing journalists, Emeka Mgbemene, deputy director in charge of press at the NYSC headquarters, said those who tested positive for COVID-19 were prospective and not yet NYSC corps members.

“There is no person in the NYSC orientation camp nationwide who tested positive to COVID-19,” Mgbemene added.

“The procedure is everyone, including the NYSC staff, is subjected to a test conducted by the NCDC. Meaning that prospective Corps members and staff can only be admitted into the camp unless the person is tested negative.”

The development comes hours after the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) reacted to a claim that 109 prospective corps members tested positive for the virus at its various orientation camps.