- Workers, journalists anxious
- 3 staff test positive in Chief of Staff’s office
BY OUR CORRESPONDENT, ABUJA – The reign of anxiety and tension has now taken the centre stage at the Presidential Villa, Abuja as three officials in the Chief of Staff to the President’s office, Abba Kyari, reportedly testing positive to the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The development comes on the heels of confirmation on Tuesday from the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that Kyari, who recently returned from Germany, had tested positive.
Amid palpable fears and anxious moments among workers in the Villa, including journalists, Presidency insiders said aside the trio already confirmed positive to the virus, all persons suspected to have been exposed to the Chief of Staff since his recent return from the German trip have been advised self-isolate.
Presidency sources said the anxiety is in feverish pitch following Kyari’s reported interaction in a meeting with members of the Committee set up by the Federal Government to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria all through Sunday.
With the symptom of regular coughing, Kyari, notoriously labelled as leader of a Cabal in the Villa, voluntarily submitted himself for testing and was informed of his status on Monday.
Though reports said the President’s Chief of Staff has gone into absolute isolation for treatment, it could not be officially confirmed if the three affected persons have been quarantined or moved to the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital isolation centre.
A source at the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja hinted that social distancing is now fully in force within the nation’s seat of power with workers employing all manners of greetings outside physical handshakes
Besides a few staff who were seen on their duty posts, sources told Forefront that the precautionary measures and health advisory from relevant authorities seems to have taken effect with many individuals unavailable at work.
It was also gathered that the advice to self-isolate has already commenced in full force with most of the aides and workers at the Villa not turning up for work on Tuesday.
The source hinted that with the way things are going, the State House may soon be on total a lockdown as none essential staff are currently complying with the stsy-at-home directives from the Villa authorities.
In the meantime, the State House is yet to officially issue a statement confirming or denying the reports on the coronavirus outbreak as it affects the President’s Chief of Staff or other workers in the Villa.
So far, Nigeria has reported only one fatality from the virus, with officially confirmed cases now put at 42
In spite of the rise in number of cases, reports indicate that most victims who are infected have only come down with only mild symptoms and recover quickly after treatment
