Why name of Italian citizen confirmed to have coronavirus cannot be revealed- Minister of Health, Ehanire Osagie

Minister of Health, Ehanire Osagie has disclosed the reason the name of the 44-year-old Italian citizen who has been confirmed to have tested coronavirus infection cannot be revealed.

Osagie said that the name of the patient cannot be disclosed publicly because it goes against the ethics of medicine.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday March 2; the Minister said:

”You do not give out a patient’s name without his permission. If someone has a problem, you can talk about the problem and not his name.

”I am not sure if he has been asked, but he has not given permission for his name to be made public. He might want his privacy and there is no need for anyone to know his name.”

The minister added that the index case of coronavirus in Nigeria is in a good condition.

”I was able to see him. He was strolling around in his room, I could see him from the glass window. And according to the doctors, his case is quite mild.”

Osagie also disclosed that the driver who picked up the Italian man at the airport is also being monitored even though he is yet to meet with him.

”I didn’t see the taxi driver who drove the patient, but he has been identified. He is under monitoring and self-isolation,” the minister said.