The strict compliance to the Covid-19 protocol put in place by the Main Oragnizing Committee of the Edo 2020 National sports Festival headed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Nebeolisa Anako in conjunction with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) ensured that there was no spike in the spread of the dreaded virus during the Festival.
According to the Chairman of the Main Organizing Committee and Permanent Secretary, Mr. Nebeolisa Anako, “We are excited that the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival has been a huge success and the fear of the spread of the virus was doused due to measures put in place by the MOC, LOC, the NCDC and other relevant health agencies. 17 Rapid Diagnostic Test and Polymerase Chain Reaction test were carried out: 11 PCR and 6 RTD”.
He disclosed that the 17 persons who tested positive from 10 states at the beginning of the sports festival were immediately isolated in line with health guidelines. While nine PCR were positive in the course of the festival, two were positive on arrival.
Following the prompt response of the medical team, all the cases were treated by the Edo Incident Management team and have been confirmed negative and discharged accordingly.
However, there was pre exit RDT test conducted randomly on few states in compliance with Covid -19 guidelines.
This development has put paid to fear that convergence at sports arena could lead to a spike in the spread of the dreaded virus.
The Edo 2020 National Sports Festival was postponed last year following the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic which led to a national shut down and a halt to sports activities.
7000 athletes and officials participated from 36 states and the FCT in 36 sporting events at the just concluded Festival.