What was, perhaps meant to be a joke may not end well for comedian Patrick Idringi commonly known as Patrick Salvado after he posted claiming he had treated himself of Covid-19 by taking whiskey at home.
In the Wednesday tweet, the standup comedian and radio presenter claimed he had been infected by Omicron variant which scientists have described as one of most contagious strain.
“Dear @KagutaMuseveni and @MinofHealthUG I tested positive of the Omicron virus some days ago, and after being consistent with drinking whiskey I’m now negative …basically my home bar made me recover – Kati imagine what opening bars will do for others .. are we together?,” he tweeted attracting criticism from someonf his folowers who described his message as dark humour and hypocritical.
“I find this quite absurd and irresponsible from a public figure. It is misleading and should be rejected with contempt” reacted one, Innocent Masengo (@Innomase) before adding “If it’s meant to be funny then it’s dark humor.”
Walter Mwesigye (@Mwesigyewalter), a senior health reporter at NTV Uganda reacted by advising the comedian to refrain from advocating for irresponsible use of alcohol.
“Please don’t mislead the public. Recovery from the COVID19 infection is based on proven science and not home experiments. You’re also @HeartUganda (Uganda Heart Institute) ambassador, you can’t be advocating for irresponsible use of alcohol. Thank you,” Walter tweeted.
In his defence, Salvado insisted his tweet was about personal experience.
“I’m not misleading the public that’s why I tagged the people I tagged. I shared a personal experience and you are complaining,” he said.
Salvado’s tweet was made an hour before the Ministry of Health confirmed 1,272 new Covid-19 cases as infections on Wednesday shot to 137, 270 since March last year when the virus outbreak was confirmed in the country.
Dear @KagutaMuseveni and @MinofHealthUG I tested positive of the Omicron virus some days ago, and after being consistent with drinking whiskey I’m now negative .. basically my home bar made me recover – Kati imagine what opening bars will do for others .. are we together?
— Patrick Salvado ? (@idringp) December 29, 2021
According to the ministry’s statement, at least 3,287 Ugandans have succumbed to the virus while 98,357 have recovered since March last year.
So far, 11,377,067 vaccine doses have been administered in Uganda. However, there are 69 active cases admitted at health facilities across the country, according to government.
On December 31, President Yoweri Museveni is expected to address Ugandans on the Covid-19 situation and reopening the economy. Bars and entertainment venues are some of the businesses that have been under the virus-induced lockdown since March last year.
In one of his televised addresses, President Museveni said he would not open the bars because “I don’t trust drunkards; they are never sober”.
However, in what appeared to be change of strategy, the president recently said he would fully reopen the economy in January 2022.
Results of COVID-19 tests done on 27 December 2021 confirm 1,272 new cases. The cumulative confirmed cases are 137,270. #STAYSAFEUG pic.twitter.com/zzBIhWfOQs
— Ministry of Health- Uganda (@MinofHealthUG) December 29, 2021
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