COVID-19: Guinea-Bissau PM And Three Other Ministers Test Positive

The Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau, Nuno Gomes Nabiam, on Wednesday, announced that he had contracted the novel coronavirus, as well as three other ministers in his cabinet.

“I have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, I am at home and I feel well,” the PM said in a post on Facebook.

Following his announcement, he said that the virus “exists and spreads easily,” also advising residents to stay at home and “take every measure to save your life and those of your family."

The country with a population of just 1.8 million has recorded a total of 73 coronavirus cases with one death.

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The fear, as is present in other poor countries, is the inability of the government to handle a large outbreak.

The PM had said that a “good number” of members of its coronavirus committee had been infected with the virus, stating that this was so because they were "at the forefront" of the fight against the virus.

The Minister of Health, Antonio Deuna, told AFP that three other ministers had contracted the virus: the Minister of Interior, Botche Cande, Secretary of State for Public Order, Mario Fambe, and the Secretary of State for Regional Integration Monica Boiro.

A police offcer, who chose to speak under the condition of anonymity, revealed that ministry staff had been in close contact and usually are seen without any protective masks.

He added, “We are all afraid."