Mozambique’s Health Minister tests positive for COVID-19
October 13, 2020
By Jorge Joaquim
Mozambique's Health Minister Armindo Tiago on Tuesday confirmed that he tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the first cabinet minister hit by the virus.
In a statement sent to the press, the minister said he has no symptoms and that is physically and mentally well. “I am infected, but not sick,” he said.
Tiago said that the test was held on the morning of Monday, 12 October, as a routine preparation for a trip abroad.
Tiago said he has been self-isolating at home.
"At this point, as a result of my situation, I recommend all those who have had contact with me to take the test for the appropriate purposes," Tiago said, advancing that tests have already been carried out for family members and employees of the Ministry of Health, who may have been in contact with him.
“The test result could only be known to me. However, as Minister of Health, I understand that I can transform this situation into a moment of learning for myself and for others ”, he said adding that “no one in this world can say that they are immune to the new coronavirus.”
Coronavirus statistics in Mozambique
73 people with the virus have died in Mozambique, which has a total cumulative of 10,258 cases.
The latest person to die was a 58-year-old woman, after passing away today, 13 October, in a hospital in Maputo city.
The authorities today also reported 170 new cases of covid-19 — all through local transmission — and 330 recoveries bringing the total of individuals previously infected with the new coronavirus to 7,880.
