The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Cross River State has denied reports that thirteen corps members tested positive for COVID-19 in the State.
Mr Enuma Peter, NYSC’s Assistant Director, Press and Public Relations unit, said no corps member currently in the orientation camp in Calabar, tested positive.
“NYSC wishes to assert that presently, no registered 2020 Batch B Stream II corps member in Cross River is COVID-19 positive.
“It is worthy to note that all prospective corps members for the ongoing programme underwent COVID-19 test conducted by the National Centre for Disease Control, which is a condition for admission into any of the 37 camps in the country.”
The management noted that the Cross River Commissioner for Health has not requested or received any brief from the NYSC on the ongoing COVID-19 test of corps members at the orientation camp in Obubra Local Government area of the state .
Peter warned that any report aside that of the joint release from NYSC and NCDC from the ongoing orientation course may not have given the true picture of the state of affairs.
“The management of NYSC in Cross River would like to use this opportunity to add that all orientation camp officials and visitors to the camp are also continuously tested by officials of NCDC while the entire camp community ensures strict compliance to all COVID-19 protocols.
“It is also misleading to blame the increased number of coronavirus cases in Cross River to the activities of NYSC, considering that there is free movement of Nigerians across state’s boundaries which has nothing to do with the orientation course,” the statement added.
