Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama has opened up on how he contracted COVID-19 and survived the infection for three weeks in isolation.
According to Daily Trust, Onyeama revealed that using three layers of protection did not stop him from contracting the deadly disease. The minister disclosed this at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 on Thursday, August 13, in Abuja.
He went on to note that it was probably a good thing a member of the presidential task force contracted the disease so the person can share the experience.
The minister speaking on the issue of stigmatisation, said there is nothing to be ashamed of.
He explained that it is not a death sentence and anybody can contract it. He urged Nigerians not to be afraid and treat it just like any other sickness.
He said: “COVID-19 is real. I used to have three layers of protection but it did not stop that. I will like to say that the issue of stigmatisation is nothing to be ashamed of.”
The minister while thanking the medical team who looked after him, added that he was proud that the staff were Nigerians and congratulated them for the work they did.
Onyeama who made this revelation on Wednesday on his verified Twitter page said that results of the test recently conducted on him prove that he is now negative to the virus.
The excited minister said: “By the very special grace of God my latest #COVID19 test result came back negative after three weeks isolation.”
According to him, he had a throat irritation and he decided to get tested for the fourth time and it came back positive.
The Enugu-born minister has also been very active as a member of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 headed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.
Abba Kyari, Ajimobi, Osinowo, 5 other VIPs who have died from Covid-19.
A total of 47,290 cases of the coronavirus have been recorded in Nigeria since the first case was announced in late February.
33,609 have recovered, but 956 people have also died.