Stop Stigmatising COVID-19 Positive Persons -Minister

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has enjoined Nigerians to stop stigmatising people that tested positive for Coronavirus (Covid-19) disease.
The Minister made the appeal yesterday on a Nigeria Television Authority programme, “Good Morning Nigeria” monitored by our correspondent.
“The challenge we have today in Nigeria is that of people trying to stigmatise those who have Coronavirus.
‘This is responsible for why many people are not coming out for test, even when they have contact with confirmed cases or have recent travel history.
“They did not come out for testing because they are afraid of the stigmatisation if they turn out to test positive for the virus,” he said.
The Minister specifically called on the media to limit report of positive cases for the virus by mentioning names except when such persons come out to announce their status.
He similarly encouraged those that tested positive not to be ashamed because Coronavirus is not a death sentence.
The Minister who is a member of the Presidential Task Force for the Control of Coronavirus said they were looking for about 6000 people who had come in contact with confirmed cases or people with travel history to countries with high index cases.