COVID-19 Testing Is Free, AKSGAssures Citizens

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COVID-19 Testing Is Free, AKSGAssures Citizens

The Akwa Ibom gov ernment has de scribed as untrue the rumours making the rounds that COVID-19 test in the state are charged for. This clarification was made by the commissioner for health, Professor Augustine Vincent Umoh, while answering questions on Update Akwa Ibom, a public interest radio programme produced by the Ministry of Information and Strategy which is aired live on Comfort 95.1fm by 11am, Wednesdays. Umoh explained that charges only apply to those who were mandated to submit themselves for COVID-19 test as part of travel requirements as such, was the practice globally, and not applicable to Akwa Ibom alone. He stressed that, suspected COVID-19 cases through contact tracing or those who were ill and mandated to undergo COVID-19 tests would have their tests conducted free of charge. Umoh appealed to citizens to cooperate with the state government in overcoming the pandemic by adhering to COVID-19 prevention guidelines as the second strain of the virus was more virulent than the first one. The commissioner advised Akwa Ibom people not to panic but report suspected cases of COVID-19 to the Akwa Ibom COVID-19 response team through the phone numbers: 09045575515 and 07035211919. "Members of the public can also call the Akwa Ibom Information Hotline on 07000000001, he said.