ABUJA (NIGERIA) – Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama said on Sunday he has tested positive for COVID-19. He becomes the first member of the cabinet headed by President Muhammadu Buhari to get infected.
Onyeama, 64, tweeted that he underwent a test because of a throat irritation.
“Did my fourth COVID-19 test yesterday at the first sign of a throat irritation and unfortunately this time it came back positive,” he tweeted. “Heading for isolation in a health facility and praying for the best.”
The cabinet has been holding virtual executive council meetings while adhering to social distancing norms.
After taking steps to slow the spread of the pandemic, the government began to ease lockdown curbs in May. The virus claimed 778 people in Nigeria and infected more than 36,000.
Onyeama played a significant role in repatriating stranded Nigerians because of travel curbs during the outbreak of the pandemic.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field