The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in collaboration with the Bayelsa State Government has inaugurated an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to track and control the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

Governor Diri, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo commended and acknowledge acknowledged the support of US government in the state, saying the state-of-the-art facility which was constructed by the State Government and upgraded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is part of government efforts to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

He added that the state has mandated the ministry of information to launch behaviour change communication programmes to address myths, misconceptions and negative beliefs exhibited by some indigenes of the state about COVID-19.

The Bayelsa State is among the eight states Emergency Operations Centre have been publicly commissioned after receiving the USAID-funded upgrades. Other states include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Cross River, Edo, Niger, Oyo, and Kano.

The emergency Operation Centre is expected to support centralized, real-time monitoring and predictive modelling for enhanced coordination of activities.