The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC) have reacted to reports that corps members tested positive for COVID-19 in camps.
On Monday, Walida Isa, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Coordinator, disclosed that results showed five prospective participants in Abuja had been infected.
Isa made the revelation at the swearing-in of the 2020 Batch B Stream 1.
The official said 853 corps members were registered and allowed in after they tested negative for coronavirus.
“The five that were positive were taken to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control for treatment. So they’re not among the number we registered,” Isa added.
On Tuesday, NYSC spokesperson, Adenike Adeyemi, gave the management’s position.
Adenike told Nigerians that no carrier of the virus was in Lagos, Kano and FCT camps.
“The true position is that no Corps Member in any of the NYSC camps is COVID-19 positive. The NYSC is in collaboration with Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC), and the Centre maintains a very strong presence in all the NYSC camps nationwide.
“All Prospective Corps Members were tested for COVID-19 before being admitted into the camps. Those that tested positive were handed over to the NCDC for treatment and management. The public is hereby assured that the 37 Camps of the Scheme are safe, as COVID-19- 19 safety protocols are strictly adhered to.”
Adenike said there is no cause for alarm, adding that NYSC and NCDC are up to the task of safeguarding the graduates’ lives.
Chikwe Ihekweazu, NCDC Director-General, has given the same assurance.
“No COVID-19 cases inside NYSC camps. Cases recorded were due to effective measures to screen corpers before entry into orientation camps. We prepared for NYSC for months to ensure safe reopening of orientation camps”, he told Arise News.
