A private hospital in Delta State has been sealed by the State Police Division as a precautionary measure, after the first COVID-19 patient who was admitted there died on Thursday.

The operation to seal of the hospital building, situated in Warri South Local Government Area of the state was led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), A’ Division, Warri, Onyeke Ezekiel, and other community leaders on Friday.

A source said, “In a somewhat surprising circumstance, the shutdown was greeted with some resistance from residents in the area. The storey building housing the clinic also plays host to residential occupants, while the clinic occupies one of the flats.”

“The fatal case who is reportedly a pastor of a popular church in Warri, died on Thursday at the DELSUTH Isolation Centre, Oghara after showing extreme symptoms of the novel coronavirus.”

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed the development.

She said, “Yes, it is true. The police sealed off the building because the COVID-19 patient that died on Thursday was first admitted in the hospital. He was a pastor. He was treated there until the case became worst, then he was transferred to Oghara and he died immediately they got there. The police went there and discovered that there are still other patients receiving treatment in the hospital. Thus, they sealed off the building.”