Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, and other top aides of President Muhammadu Buhari are in self-isolation over the confirmation that the President’s Chief of Staff, Malam Abba Kyari, who they met with severally in the course of their duties, has the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Also, in self-isolation is the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (who is attached to the Vice President’s Office), Mr Ade Ipaye.
In addition, all the personnel in Mr Kyari’s office as well as all the other Presidential aides who has had contact with him have been asked to self-isolate.
A source however noted that no tests would be done on them unless they show symptoms of the virus.
Explaining that this is because there is a limited number of test kits, he noted that “tests are done if only people are showing symptoms. If they are not showing symptoms, they will only be told to self-isolate. They will not be tested until they are showing symptoms. It’s on account of limited kits that this is done.
“Ideally, everybody should be tested because there are some people that are not showing the symptoms and are positive. We have people from high burdened countries but there are no kits. It is not prudent to use the kits for those that are not showing the signs.”
Vice President Osinbajo and Malam Kyari sits close to each other at the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, being only separated by the seat of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.
Osinbajo also presides over the National Economic Council meetings.
Kyari, who on Monday tested positive to COVID-19, was on a trip to Germany on March 7 to meet with officials of Siemens in Munich on the Nigerian electricity expansion programme. He returned to the country on March 14th.
The outcome of Kyari’s test, promoted that of President Muhammadu Buhari which fortunately came out negative.
According to a top government functionary, Kyari “is in self-isolation where he’s being monitored by medical personnel because he’s not showing severe symptoms of the disease.”
Asked if he had been moved to Abuja University Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada where victims of COVID-19 are being treated, the source replied: “it is not compulsory that everyone who tests positive must be taken to the hospital. If the patient is not showing severe symptoms of COVID-19, he can merely be given a bed rest.”
Noting that most of the victims of the disease naturally recover, the source stated that over 80 per cent of victims recover without any intervention.
“He may test positive and not show severe symptoms and so be in self-isolation. The symptoms in over 80 per cent cases are mild as they manifest modestly. Most people will recover without intervention. Fatality is common in old people. They only have to be monitored to find that the situation is not deteriorating. He can be on bed rest and given drugs related to the symptoms he’s showing. If the symptom is fever. He can be given paracetamol.
“He will be given water to help him hydrate. His blood sample will be taken to know that he’s not showing any sign of deterioration. The treatment given to them is just to support the immune system,” he said.
According to the source, most of the victims of the disease who die are those who show respiratory symptoms like pneumonia and that is why ventilators are needed.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday afternoon, members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 toured the Presidential Villa beginning from the office of the quarantined Chief Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.
The committee members, led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, all wore face masks.
They went in through the wing housing the Permanent Secretary’s office and came out from the Chief of Staff wing. The tour lasted for about 40 minutes.
When approached to comment on the purpose of the visit, Mustapha said: “You will be briefed later,” as he led his team members out of the office.
Other members of the Committee are Dr. Sani Aliyu, National Coordinator for the fight against COVID19, Ministers of Health, Interior, Aviation, Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and Minister of Education.
Others include the Minister of Information and Culture, Minister of Environment, Director General, Department of Security Service, Director General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and World Health Organization Country Representative.
Meanwhile, as part of measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19, the Media department of the Presidential Villa has reduced the number of accredited journalists covering the activities of the President and his officials from over 100 to 20. This is for an initial period of two weeks.