The Bayelsa Government has debunked reports that there are cases of coronavirus in the state.

In a recent statement by Dr Inodu Apoku, Permanent Secretary, Bayelsa Ministry of Health, he revealed that the news saying otherwise are fake and should not be taken seriously.

According to him, the public must desist from spreading rumour on coronavirus pandemic in the state.

He then assured the people of the state government’s commitment to preventing the outbreak and spread of the disease, urging them not to fear but to embrace the facts about the pandemic.

His words, “Stop the spread of fake COVID-19 news in Bayelsa.

“It has come to the notice of the Ministry of Health that all manner of persons and characters, including people who are supposedly well-informed, have taken it upon themselves to be courier of malicious and fake rumour about COVID-19, particularly through the social media in the state.

“On Thursday, there were heightened rumours of suspected COVID-19 cases in the state, including the case of a man in Odoni community, Sagbama Local Government Area.

“ He was alleged to be very sick, following his return from South Korea, and that of an American said to have returned to the University of Africa recently from U.S.A.

“As usual, when we heard the rumour, our state Rapid Response Team made up of doctors, public health nurses, epidemiologist and team from WHO and NCDC official, were promptly dispatched to investigate the rumours.”