The Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, his wife, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu, and all members of Abia's first family have tested negative for COVID -19.

A statement that was personally signed by Ikpeazu reads: "Leading this battle from the front as your governor, I and all members of the first family subjected ourselves to COVID-19 tests on Saturday, May 30, 2020, and the results came out negative yesterday.

"Unfortunately, results of two of my aides who also subjected themselves to COVID-19 tests were positive while others turned in negative results.

Ikpeazu said that the new phase of the fight against COVID-19 in Abia would require massive testing of citizens to achieve at least 10% per cent coverage of our population at the initial stage of the exercise.

The governor also directed all local government chairmen and their deputies in the state to present themselves for COVID-19 test and thereafter isolate themselves pending the release of their test results.