After days of speculation, the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Abba Kyari, has admitted that he tested positive for coronavirus, according to the twitter handle of the Presidency, @NGRPresident.

In a letter he wrote the public, Kyari said he tested positive last week, but that he was proceeding to Lagos on Sunday (yesterday) for further tests, based on medical advice.

He claimed to feel well as he had yet to experience any of the symptoms associated with coronavirus virus.

Kyari added that he would soon resume work.

Neither of the presidential spokespersons, Mr Femi Adesina and Mr Garba Shehu, have confirmed the letter.

However, it is on the official twitter handle of the Presidency, earlier referred above.

The letter reads in full:

“I am writing to let you know that on medical advice, I will transfer to Lagos later today for additional tests and observation. This is a precautionary measure: I feel well, but last week, I tested positive for coronavirus, the pandemic that is sweeping the world. I have followed all the protocols the government has announced to self-isolate and quarantine.

“I have made my own care arrangements to avoid further burdening the public health system, which faces so many pressures. Like many others that will test also positive, I have not experienced high fever or other symptoms associated with this new virus and have been working from home. I hope to be back at my desk very soon.

“I have a team of young, professional, knowledgeable and patriotic colleagues, whose dedication has been beyond the call of duty, who continue to work seven days a week, with no time of the day spared. We will continue to serve the President and people of Nigeria, as we have for the past five years.

“I want to thank all our fantastic, talented and brave healthcare professionals, working across the country in such a difficult time; all the good Samaritans looking out for the most vulnerable in our communities; the key workers that will keep our country going through this; friends and family and often strangers, who have sent me such warm wishes and displayed such a generosity of spirit.

“We should be calm, measured and diligent – be meticulous in your hygiene, especially with cleaning hands, if possible stay at home or keep your distance. Listen to good advice from the proper authorities: pay no heed to quack cures or fake news from social media. President Buhari will do whatever it takes to protect the health and safety of our people and get the country back on its feet as soon as possible.

“Like the whole world, we are dealing with a new disease. Our experts are learning more all the time about coronavirus, what it does and how we can combat it. What we do know is that while some may become very sick, many others who contract the virus will not, and may have no symptoms at all. This is a disease that recognises no difference between north and south, men or women, rich or poor. We are all in this together.”

Kyari had tested positive to the virus on Monday last week and went on self-isolation, as he avoided coming to office.

But, he did not make his status official, leaving his condition to conjectures.

His case also forced the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to take his own test, which proved negative.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo also took the test and got a negative result.

Many ministers and state governors, who were exposed to Kyari after he returned from a trip to Germany and Egypt, were also advised to take the test to ascertain their status.

While some tested negative, others also tested positive.