Viral Video: 25-year-old COVID-19 Patient Did Not Die In Our Isolation Centre – Ogun Govt

The Ogun State Government on Tuesday denied the death of a 25-year-old patient, in any of its isolation centres.

The state commissioner for health, Dr Tomi Coker, in a statement made available to Tribune Online, described a video which went viral on some social media platforms, that the patient died in an isolation centre in the state.

Coker condemned the act of filming a dying patient as a “reckless act”, submitting that the state did not have any record of a 25-year-old male admitted into any of the isolation centres in Ogun State, and that arrangement in the state wards is spacious to meet with the social distancing regulation stipulated by World Health Organisation ( WHO) contrary to the space displayed in the propaganda video.

She said that a bank logo on the cabinet by the bedside of the patient indicated that it was donated by the said bank, insisting that the place in question is not an Ogun State isolation centre.

The commissioner added that no single COVID-19 relief item was donated to Ogun State government by the bank which has its logo on the cabinet.

Coker pointed out that the inscription on the wall of the background does not tally with any of the numerous encouraging wall inscriptions in Ogun State wards.

The Commissioner said none of Ogun State isolation centres is painted in the colour shown in the footage.

Condemning the video, Coker said that it is inappropriate for a hospital environment meant for caring to be turned into such frivolous use.

She described the action as a disheartening and futile smear campaign designed to denigrate the steady battle against COVID-19 in Ogun State.

“It is unfortunate that anyone would take delight in filming a dying patient rather than assist as the footage suggests,” the Commissioner said.