20 Generals test positive for Covid-19, SGF in isolation
About 20 Generals have reportedly tested positive for Covid-19, about one week after the death of the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Maj. Gen. John Irefin, who died of complications from the disease.
The infected military officials were believed to have had contact with the deceased during the Chief of Army Staff’s annual conference 2020, in Abuja last week.
The conference was cancelled following Irefin’s passage and the participants, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi and the GOC’s from nearly all the army divisions nationwide, were directed to go on self isolation.
Following the development, the COAS did not attend the wedding of his son in Abuja on Friday.
It was gathered on Sunday that some of the infected GOC’s and principal officers were being treated at the Covid-19 isolation centre, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja.
Some of the patients were also being quarantined at other isolation centres in the Federal Capital Territory.
The development, it was learnt, has sparked a panic among top military brass who had yet to take the Covid-19 test.
A source said, “The report is true, i know about four Generals who returned positive and are being treated for the disease.
meanwhile, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha has gone into self isolation after some members of his household tested positive for Covid-19.
Mustapha, who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19, made this known in a statement on Sunday.
The statement was titled, “Some members of SGF’s household test positive to Covid-19”.
“My wife and i tested negative but will remain self isolation and work from home according to protocols by the health authorities.
“I’ll like to remind all Nigerians that Covid-19 is real. As the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, announced last week, we are recording an increase in cases across several states”.
“Please stay safe and protect yourself. Adhere to all public health and safety measures so that we do not lose the gains we have made in the fight against Covid-19.
“Please take responsibility for yourself and to protect our country”.