UCH chairman tests positive again, to continue treatment

The result of COVID-19 second test done for the chairman of the governing board of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Ibrahim Shetima, has returned positive and would continue to receive treatment.

The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr Toye Akinrinlola, had said the chairman manifested symptoms of the virus shortly after the last board meeting of the hospital began in Ibadan, adding that the test conducted on him revealed that he was positive for COVID-19.

Shetima had been in isolation at a special ward in the UCH after he tested positive for coronavirus two weeks ago.

On Tuesday, Akinrinlola, said a third test would be done in a few days.

He said, “As I earlier said, the chairman only attended the first day of the board meeting on Tuesday, 24th of March, 2020. It was at the meeting that he began to exhibit symptoms of COVID-19. The meeting was suspended and a test was done and result came out positive. He was placed in a special ward at the hospital for treatment.

“A repeat test, which was done to see if he was negative after a series of treatments, was conducted two days ago (Sunday) and the result still showed positive.

“He is being treated at an isolation centre at the UCH. He will continue treatment and a third test would be done at an appointed time.”

The UCH image maker, however, said Shetima was “sharp and alert.”

He added, “The chairman’s case is not severe. He is sharp and alert but we have to attain that negative status before we can consider him as fully recovered. The record we have places him around 65 years of age.”

Also, at the meeting was the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof Jesse Otegbayo, who later tested positive for the virus. After days of treatment, a reconfirmation test was carried out on the CMD which came out negative on Sunday.

Akinrinlola said, “At the meeting, the chairman was sitting close to the CMD, Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee and at least two other top officials of the hospital. As of today, none of these people is showing any symptom. The CMD that was found to be positive is now negative when a confirmatory test was done. Hopefully, the chairman will be negative too when the third test is done.”