I Was Afraid to Die – Edwin Clarke Shares His Experience with COVID-19

Chief Edwin Clarke, an elderly Nigerian statesman, revealed that he and nine members of his family have tested positive for COVID-19.

Clarke revealed this during a conversation with reporters on Wednesday in Kyagbodo, Delta State.

Talking about his experiences in isolation, Clark revealed that he spent two weeks treating the virus before subsequent tests by the Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC) came back negative.

He called on Nigerians to support the federal government’s efforts to contain the spread of the pandemic in the country.

Clarke revealed he contracted COVID-19 after his granddaughter, who was visiting her home in Abuja, became ill and later tested positive for the virus.

At the time, he said, he was very worried about his age and reports of people dying from the virus.

He said: “Around the last month I received a call from one of my granddaughters who was traveling from Warrie. I told her that her people in Warri did not adhere well to COVID-19 protocols and asked her to stay at the guesthouse.

“On the third day my niece became very ill. He was very weak, coughed and said he had malaria. I ordered to take her to my clinic. Due to her cough, the doctor asked her to take a COVID-19 test.

“The next day, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagi Ehanir, sent doctors and 24 of us were examined at home, and on Saturday the result was obtained and nine of us were positive. First on the list was me. I was very worried because people were dying from the virus.

“Dr. Ehanir contacted the FCT COVID team and they wanted to evacuate me to a good isolation ward, but I insisted on home treatment.

“They sent doctors to take care of me and other positive results. I was worried because I heard about people dying from the virus, Clark said.

However, the 93-year-old senior statesman said he had recovered from the virus along with nine of his employees and siblings who tested positive.