An Ondo State based journalist, who was listed among those with Coronavirus, has come out to deny the news.
The result of his test was mentioned alongside that of a cleric and a nurse by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu during the weekly update on COVID-19 in the state.
Speaking after he was discharged, the 33-year-old journalist, who resides in Ore, Odigbo Local Government, urged the public to ignore reports that he tested positive for Coronavirus.
The journalist said that he only had malaria fever and not Coronavirus.
He said he had even recovered from malaria three weeks before he was invited for COVID-19 test by health officials tracing others with the virus.
According to him, upon his arrival at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Akure, he was isolated and placed under watch by officials.
He said, “Yet they refused to release me not until after eight days at the isolation centre in Akure”.
The journalist said another test conducted at the IDH confirmed him negative, he was still held at the facility where he was given chloroquine and vitamin C.
But Ondo Commissioner for Health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro, dismissed the claims, saying there was nothing to gain by lying about anyone’s status.
Adegbenro insisted that the first samples returned positive from the molecular testing centre in Ede, Osun.
He urged the journalist to desist from spreading falsehood as it could hinder the fight against the virus.
Meanwhile, nine persons have died from COVID-19 related illness in the state.
