Editor narrates how he contracted COVID-19 from late colleague

Abdallah el-Kurebe, editor, Newsdiaryonline, has narrated how he contracted COVID-19 from a colleague, who is now late.

In a statement issued from his isolation centre in Sokoto on Sunday, el-Kurebe, who described himself as a science journalist, said he volunteered to take a test after he received the report of a colleague who tested positive for coronavirus after he died.

After receiving the news, he took the test on Friday and got a confirmation of his positive status on Sunday.

He however, added that he still doesn’t have symptoms.

His post read: “As a science journalist and following the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus, I always took precautionary measures to ensure I did not contract the dreaded disease.

“My publisher, Mr. Danlami Nmodu, would always call me, almost every day, to advise me to be cautious and observe all protocols. “Editor, be careful ooo. Follow all protocols. Please, don’t stress yourself. Avoid overcrowded places.

“I was also conscious that it was possible to have contact with those who were positive, but never went for test to know they were. I observed all protocols, as instructed by my publisher who called every day to warn me against breaching them.

“I remember one of the cases who found comfort in mingling with journalists at any event. He will always be with us at every assignment. He later tested positive and died.

“At one of the COVID-19 press briefings by the Health Commissioner, who is also the Chairman, Sokoto State Taskforce on COVID-19, I raised colleagues’ consciousness of the need to voluntarily go for test.

“The following day, a colleague was reported to have been rushed to the hospital but died two days after. But because his sample had been taken at the hospital, the result was positive after he had died.

“Even though I had and still don’t have any symptom, I felt a stronger need not to wait a day longer but rush to get tested. And on Friday, May 1st, I drove myself to the Centre where my sample was taken.

“On Sunday afternoon, I got a call from a doctor at one of the isolation centres that I had tested positive. So, there is the need for either our vehicle comes to your house to convey you or drive yourself to the isolation centre. Come with anything you want to have pleasure with so that we commence treatment,” the doctor said.

“I packed everything I needed, including my computer and my wife drove me to the isolation centre, where I started receiving my medication.”

He added that when one of the doctors came to take his temperature, he was told that the purpose of isolation is to contain spread of the virus while he receives treatment.

“Isolation does not mean seriousness of the infection. You only get isolated to rest and take drugs,” he quoted the doctor as saying.

He also said he strongly believes contracting the disease is not a death sentence and advised journalists to volunteer to get tested.