FAKE NEWS ALERT: I am not quarantined, I have tested negative and I don’t have symptoms of coronavirus – Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu
The news that Director General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu is in quarantine over coronavirusis false. While he was part of World Health Organization high-level mission to China, he returned healthy, has tested negative and has no symptoms. He’s in self-isolation for 14 days in accordance with NCDC’s advisory.
As culled by the NIGERIAN HEALTH BLOG from the verified twitter handle of Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu:
I am well and have continued my duties from home since my return from China as part of the WHO-China Mission on COVID- 19.The rumour that I am sick or in quarantine is obviously false. I look forward to returning to the office after 14 days of self-isolation. For everyone who wants to know what we were up to and why this mission is so important for global health, please read the report published by WHO.
The Honourable Minister of Health was widely quoted today by the mainstream media that he had instructed the DG of NCDC to be quarantined according to universal best practices.
He was quoted as thus:
“We were honoured that one of the scientists that WHO had chosen to go to China to study the disease was the DG of NCDC.
“They went there for nine days, during which they carry out investigation. But we have already established rules here that anybody who has been to China will go to self-quarantine.
“Chikwe has gone (to China) and come back and has done the test. It’s negative, but we have insisted that he must undergo the 14days of quarantine which is why he was not here today. “It’s not allowed to come out until after 14 days, because if you make rules, you must also obey them, which is to set example for Nigerians that the head of NCDC is self-quarantine as we speak. He’s very well but he has to follow the rules.”
He said the quarantine is for observation until incubation period, which is scientifically proven to be about 14 days, has passed.
