…1,200 State Contingents Screened for COVID-19

BENIN CITY – BARELY 72 hours to the arrival of State Contingents for the 2020 National Sports Festival commencement, the Edo State Deputy Governor and Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the sports fiesta, Rt. Hon. (Comrade) Philip Shaibu, has declared that the State will not only host but would emerge the overall best participating State without blemish at the end of the biennial Sports Fiesta.

The Festival which has suffered several postponements owing to the outbreak of the global novel COVID-19 Pandemic, otherwise known as ‘Coronavirus’ is billed for April 3-14, 2021.

Comrade Shaibu was enthusiastic about the state capacity to host and win while addressing Edo athletes at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin,noting that the state has invested adequately on the athletes preparation and facilities hence the confidence of government that the athletes can make it proud.

“We are not going to use drugs to win, we are not going to cheat to win.” Shaibu assured.

The LOC Chairman who was at the newly reconstructed Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Tuesday admonished the state athletes to be of good behaviour during and after the festival, and asserted, that “by the grace of God, Edo State will emerge the overall best.

“Already, I am told that Delta State are boasting that they are going to win. But we will not join them to boast because they are our brothers”

Meanwhile, the Edo Deputy Governor has restated that all participating state contingent at the sports festival will undergo compulsory covid-19 screening and vaccination on arrival.

He explained that all participating athletes are expected to be screened and take the Oxford- AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine 72 hours to the commencement of sporting activities.

The Edo State Ministry of Health in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO) has commenced the PCR Sample Collection for Team Edo as part of screening and vaccination exercise.

The Incidence Manager, COVID-19 Response Team, Dr. Andrew Obi while briefing the deputy Governor, disclosed that the sample of over 1,200 Contingents of the State were due to be collected.

Obi disclosed that progress was being made as the three PCR Laboratories on ground have assured, that “within 24 hours of sample collection, result will be out and we will make sure that the lines list for Team Edo is ready within 24 hours.

“As organizers of this event, we are going to lead by example and our target is going to be actualized. So, we are making progress”, he assured.