Borno Commissioner for Health Dr. Salisu Kwayabura has confirmed that all the five suspected cases of COVID-19 in the state have tested negative.

Dr. Kwayabura, who addressed journalists on Sunday evening in Maiduguri, said the cases were isolated in the state Public Health and Emergency Operation Centre, stressing that,  “the five persons willingly submitted themselves to be tested following their history of travelling to countries with highest coronavirus cases”.

He explained: “The results from the specimen taken from the five suspected cases for test at the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) Abuja, came back negative.

“The five persons were quarantined and   closely monitored by state Task Force on the prevention against COVID-19,” he said.

According to him: “The Health and the Emergency Operation Centre are functioning at optimal level and fully ready to deal with any emergency in the state”.

Deputy Governor, Alhaji Usman Kadafur, who is the Chairman of Rapid Response Committee for the Prevention of COVID-19 in the state, appealed to residents  to observe the highest level of personal hygiene, including the regular washing of  hands and use of sanitizers in public places.

Kadafur noted that only the attitude of the people can stop or spread the virus hence the need for people take the preventive measures serious.

He announced that the committee has deployed health personnel across the state to enforce compliance.

He appealed to traders, petroleum marketers not to hike prices and inflict artificial hardship on the people because   the COVID-19 situation.

“The state government will not condone hoarding of fuel by fuel marketers to cause artificial scarcity and hardship,” he said.