COVID-19: I’m not in ICU, ‘bearded’ El-Rufai says from isolation
Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday debunked online reports that he has been moved to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in a Lagos hospital. He posted a recent unshaved picture of himself stating that, “Since there is some fake news circulating that I am in an ICU in a Lagos Hospital, a nice […]
Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday debunked online reports that he has been moved to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in a Lagos hospital.
He posted a recent unshaved picture of himself stating that, “Since there is some fake news circulating that I am in an ICU in a Lagos Hospital, a nice ICU picture will help debunk the evil news!”
The Governor, who tested positive for coronavirus on March 28, 2020, had tweeted on Monday that he attended a State Standing Committee on Covid-19, chaired by Deputy Governor Dr Hasiza Balarabe.
He stated via social media that “Earlier today, I took 2 hours out of isolation to attend the daily virtual meeting of State Standing Committee on Covid-19, chaired by Deputy Governor Dr Hasiza Balarabe. Since there is some fake news circulating that I am in an ICU in a Lagos Hospital, a nice ICU picture will help debunk the evil news!”
El-Rufai said: “For the avoidance of any doubt, I have been isolated for the past 24 days in a wing of the Government House, Kaduna undergoing treatment for coronavirus from doctors of the State Ministry of Health.”
“As the pictures show, I have not shaved since I went into isolation so that I will have a new Covid-19 look to remember when this pandemic passes, as it surely will by the Grace of God,” he stated.
El-Rufai thanked all dedicated public servants as well as those who called or sent messages expressing concern and sympathy to him but stressed that: ”I am fine and getting better every passing day. Alhamdulillah.”
READ: I am still COVID-19 positive – El-Rufai
The Chief of Staff to the governor, Muh’d Sani Dattijo had earlier revealed in a post that El-Rufai is working from the isolation centre.
Dattijo in a tweet on Monday, posted a photo of himself and Elrufia live chatting with the caption, “Mallam Nasir el-Rufai at 2:06pm, Monday 20 April. Alive and Well. Working from isolation. To all the folks tweeting about him in ICU, you shall see it before he does inshaAllah.”
Mallam Nasir el-Rufai at 2:06pm, Monday 20 April.
Alive and Well. Working from isolation. To all the folks tweeting about him in ICU, you shall see it before he does inshaAllah pic.twitter.com/uyWzPBKdsd
— Muh’d Sani Dattijo (@Dattijo) April 20, 2020
El-Rufia is one of the high profile personalities who tested positive for coronavirus in Nigeria.
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Seyi Makinde of Oyo state have recovered and discharged while the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari died of the virus on Friday.
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on Sunday reported 86 new cases of coronavirus, taking the total of confirmed cases in Nigeria to 627.
The cases were reported in Lagos, Abuja (FCT), Katsina, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Jigawa and Borno.
Daily Trust Online, had exclusively reported the index case in Borno state – a retired anesthetic nurse working with an international organisation in Pulka town of Gwoza LGA who died of COVID-19 related symptoms.
Lagos recorded 70 cases while FCT reported 7 cases. Katsina and Akwa Ibom confirmed three cases each, Bauchi recorded one. Jigawa and Borno recorded index case each.
A total of 170 people have been treated and discharged. Twenty-one people have died from the virus.
Lagos remains the state with the highest number of infections, 376 as at Sunday evening.
Reactions have trailed the photo as well wishers troop in to wish the governor speedy recovery.