Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama has tested positive for Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by coronavirus.
He is a member of a presidential task force on Covid-19 that is coordinating the country’s response to the pandemic.
Mr Onyeama announced in a tweet on Sunday that he would be isolating at a health facility. He took the test following a throat irritation – one of the symptoms of the disease.
‘’Did my fourth Covid-19 test yesterday at the first sign of a throat irritation and unfortunately this time it came back positive. That is life! Win some lose some. Heading for isolation in a health facility and praying for the best,’’ he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari has wished him quick recovery.
I wish @GeoffreyOnyeama speedy recovery from Covid-19. Nigeria is eternally grateful for his diligence in attracting international support to defeat the pandemic and boost the economy. He has been a tireless worker and strong pillar of our administration.
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) July 19, 2020
The minister becomes the latest high profile individual in the country to contract the virus. A number of senior politicians, including several state governors, have tested positive for Covid-19.
In April, President Buhari’s chief of staff, Abba Kyari, died from the disease.
Nigeria has so far recorded about 36,000 cases of coronavirus, with around 15,000 recoveries and nearly 800 deaths.
Source: BBC
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