UCH CMD, College of Medicine provost, deputy test negative for COVID-19

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Professor Jesse Otegbayo, has tested negative for COVID-19 after eight days of isolation and treatment.

According to Tribune, the Head of Public Relations Unit of the hospital, Mr Toye Akinrinlola, who confirmed this said that the last test on his blood sample has come back negative.

Akinrinlola said the test result arrived at about 3:45 pm, gladden the heart of family, friends and workers of the institution.

Otegbayo had tested positive to the virus seven days ago.

He said he may have contracted the virus through Board meetings of the hospital held from Monday to Wednesday last week.

The week-long meetings were suspended on Thursday after some members were coughing and showing other symptoms of COVID-19.

He was among the eight confirmed cases in Oyo State as at Wednesday, April 1.

A statement by Toye Akinrinlola, the UCH Public Relations Officer, reads: “I have the pleasure to announce that the repeat test of the UCH CMD, Professor Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo has returned negative. He had earlier tested it positive to the COVID-19 virus last Friday.

“The provost of UI College of Medicine, Professor Oluwabunmi Olaopa Olopade and the deputy provost, Professor Obafunke Denloye have both tested negative in a repeat test.

“Professor Otegbayo had on Sunday personally said in a statement that he tested positive for COVID- 19 and admonished all those who had contact with him to go on self-quarantine.

“However, his samples were taken again on Tuesday, 31st March, 2020. Today, at about 3.00pm, the result came out negative.”