By Godwin Akor, Makurdi

Secretary of the Benue State Action Committee on COVID 19 and Commissioner for Health, Dr Sunday Ongbabo, has urged hotel managers in the state to release timely information on their guests to the committee for possible isolation and tracing  of contacts when the need arises. 

Ongbabo who made the call  during a sensitization workshop organized  for hotel managers at the Benue Hotels, Makurdi, said such particulars would help the committee to monitor the guests who may/may not show symptoms of COVID 19 on arrival.

The health commissioner said hotel managers need to take precautionary measures right from the time guests arrive to the time he or she settles down, stressing that the disease spreads through among humans.contacts.

He advised the managers not to take things for granted, pointing out that a mistake may bring about serious consequences for the entire state. 

Ongbabo further stated that COVID 19 symptoms usually manifest in patients within 14 (fourteen days) of isolation and cautioned against crowded activities in hotels.

He recommended careful observation of guests who may decide to stay in hotels on arrival from places with high number of COVID 19 cases and maintained that the World Health Organization, WHO, certifies COVID 19 tests conducted by NCDC.

Ongbabo emphasized that until a testing center was established in Benue state, the National Center for Disease Control, NCDC, would continue to handle the testing of patients.

He called on the citizens to contact local government or state action committees when they notice the presence of friends, relations or other persons from high risk areas so that self isolation could be recommended for them. 

Ongbabo said Benue’s preventive measures have been paying off and gave the symptoms of COVID 19 as severe cough, frequent sneezing, high temperature occasioned by fever and difficulty in breathing.

He told the managers to observe the prevention/safety tips of providing hand washing stands, use of hand sanitizers, use of face masks and hand gloves by cleaners and other staff of the hotel who may be taking care of the guests.

He urged local government COVID 19 action committees not to rest on their oars and enjoined them to intensify enlightenment campaigns on the extension of the partial lockdown for two more weeks.

Commissioner for Information and member of the state action committee on COVID 19, Mrs Ngunan Addingi, on her part, advised hotel managers to ensure that their activities terminate at 7 pm because of the dusk to down curfew which law enforcement agents have been enforcing. 

She sought for the cooperation of the citizenry to enable the action committee to succeed in its assignment of preventing the disease from spreading to Benue. 

According to her, every citizen should be an enlightenment officer on the COVID 19 pandemic.