COVID-19 is real, says Foreign Affairs Minister

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, yesterday insisted that COVID-19 is very real.

Speaking about his experience during his three-week isolation in Abuja, Onyema stressed the need for Nigerians to undergo coronavirus testing.

The minister, who three weeks ago tested positive for COVID-19, has since resumed duties after testing negative.

He said: “Maybe it is a good thing that a member of the team (Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19) can speak from experience and not just theory. COVID-19 is very real. I used to have what I call a triple protection – my mask, my face shield and air doctor – but it still didn’t stop that, so we just have to keep at it.

“You never know where it could come from. COVID-19 is nothing to be ashamed of, anybody can catch this virus and it’s nothing to fear, the statistics are in favour of surviving it, it is not a death sentence.

“In my case, the moment I felt something a bit different I had this thing in my throat, and I had the test the following day. It is important to get tested early, although we don’t have the capacity to test everyone that wants to be tested. “

Onyema said he suggested to the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, to recommend a cocktail of some medications where people could not be tested early.

He praised the medical team at the centre where he was isolated for their professionalism.