The Management of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH has revealed how health workers treating patients who tested positive for the Coronavirus prior to confirmation of their status contracted the virus whilst using only Personal Protection (surgical face-masks and gloves).

This followed the initial confusion among health workers at the hospital on Saturday after two patients who earlier tested negative to Coronavirus pandemic were however declared positive; Just as further tests by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), confirmed the death of two patients of coronavirus in Edo and Lagos State on Friday.

The Chief Medica Director of the hospital, Prof. Darlington Obaseki who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Benin City, sued for support and understanding in fighting the raging battle to contain and curb the pandemic.

He stressed that two surviving patients out of the three patients who have been confirmed positive with COVID-19 are currently being cared for by our dedicated staff in an isolation ward with restricted access.

Prof. Obaseki said: “Prior to confirmation of their COVID-19 status, some of our healthcare staff were exposed to these patients whilst using only Personal Protection (surgical face-masks and gloves). Currently all staff who were exposed to these patients are asymptomatic and they are being monitored closely according to current guidelines.

“Further measures have been put in place to ensure that our staff are not unduly exposed to risks of infection with COVID-19 in the course of their providing care for patients who come to the hospital for various reasons.

Healthcare workers are on the front lines in this pandemic and therefore at a higher risk of being exposed than the general public.

“The management and staff of UBTH while ensuring standard precautions at all times to prevent the spread of this disease, crave the support and understanding of the general public as we fight this raging battle to contain and curb COVID-19”, the statement added.

But, the umbrella body for the doctors, Association of Residents Doctors (ARD) in its updates to members, had said: “both patients were move to the isolation ward on March 31, based on suspicion of COVID-19.

“Samples were sent for PCR at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital same day as they were both being managed for medical illnesses; Chronic Kidney Disease and Bronchopnuemonia.

“The patient with Chronic Kidney Disease unfortunately died this morning while the other is still receiving care. Both results have returned negative for COVID-19.

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