COVID-19 : NYSC issues conflicting reports on positive corps members at camps

The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, is in image crisis over reports of some corps members testing positive to COVID-19 in some orientation camps in Lagos, Kano and FCT.

The NYSC Coordinator in Kano State, Hajiya Aisha Tata, had said on Monday that two new corps members out of the 826 posted to the state have tested positive for COVID-19.

She said this on Monday while briefing newsmen after the swearing-in of the 2020 Batch ‘B’ Stream A corps members.

Similarly, NYSC Coordinator, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Walida Isa, said five prospective corps members have tested positive for COVID-19.

She said this during the swearing-in of the 2020 Batch `B’ Stream 1 corps members on Monday in Abuja.

Read Also:COVID-19: 2 NYSC members test positive in Kano State

Walida Isa said that 858 corps members were tested for COVID- 19 and out of the number, five of them were positive.

However, the NYSC Director, Press and Public Relations, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi, described the COVID-19 positive cases in the camps as fake, saying there is no cause for alarm.

She said this in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday night.

The statement read,’’ She described as the “true position” of things, the fact that no Corps member tested positive for COVID-19 either before entering or while in the orientation camps.

It said, “The attention of Management has been drawn to the news making the rounds about some Corps Members testing positive to Coronavirus in Lagos, Kano and FCT Camps.

“The true position is that no Corps Member in any of the NYSC camp is COVID-19 positive.’’

“It is pertinent to add that the NYSC is in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC), and the Centre maintains a very strong presence in all the NYSC camps nationwide. “As a proactive measure, all Prospective Corps Members were tested for COVID-19 before being admitted into the camps.

It said, also those that tested positive were handed over to the NCDC for treatment and management. “Accordingly, the general public is hereby assured that the 37 Camps of the Scheme are safe, as COVID- 19 safety protocols are strictly adhered to. “There is no cause for alarm. Both the Scheme and NCDC are up to the task of safeguarding the lives of Corps Members and Camp officials.”