The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has tested negative for Coronavirus.
It was reports that the minister disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital on Thursday, days after meeting Covid-19 infected Abba Kyari.
The minister said the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari is doing everything possible to halt the spread of the COVID–19 pandemic in the country.
His words: “I did my test and the report came out this morning that I am negative and that is why I am here to address you.
“Every member of the presidential task force went for the test. However, I am not at liberty to tell you their status.
“My own result was given to me personally just like every other person,” the minister said.
On why he has not gone into isolation after testing negative, Mohammed said he, like his other colleagues in the task force, are taking precautionary measures.
The minister said they were abiding by the rules of social distancing and personal hygiene and the task force meets by teleconferencing when the need arises.
He said giving the importance and volume of the assignment of the task force, which is responsible for the policy directive on COVID-19, the members could not go into isolation after testing negative.
On Tuesday, President Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari tested positive for the virus. Reports had emerged earlier suggesting that Lai Mohammed might have contracted the virus after meeting Kyari but the rumour has, however, been put to rest with the emergence of a negative result for the Information Minister.
Meanwhile, Lai Mohammed Coronavirus test result is coming a day after Nigeria recorded five new cases of coronavirus with cases in the country rising to 51.
On Thursday, a sigh of relief was received when the Lagos state government disclosed that six of the patients being treated for the coronavirus disease have recovered.
The Special Assistant to the Lagos state governor on health, Tunde Ajayi, disclosed this on Twitter. He said the six patients will soon be discharged by the Infectious Diseases Hospital in the state.
“Six of our #COVID19 inpatients have recovered and will be discharged soon. There is something Lagos is doing right. Lagos takes the lead,” the Special Assistant to the Lagos state governor on health tweeted.