The Federal Government warned on Friday that relaxing or suspending some measures put in place to combat the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), particularly the restriction on movement and social distancing, at this time would backfire.
Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, sounded the warning on Friday during the daily media briefing by the task force in Abuja, just as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) counseled against easing the lockdown that is in force around the country.
Aliyu was reacting to reports indicating that some state governments had gone ahead to order temporary suspension of the lockdown orders in their various states for religious reasons, particularly for the celebration of the Easter holidays and the observance of the Friday Jumat service.
He said: “We have noted that some states have started lifting their bans or relaxing their containment protocols.
“This is really not the right time to do so because we still have an ongoing pandemic, which is global.
“It is also not the right time to do so because we could end up having real recrudescence of infections.
“At this time, I’m appealing to our local communities, religious and traditional leaders as well as the states to continue to support and encourage the public to continue to support and maintain those protective measures that are important to getting on top of this infection.
“With regard to the Easter celebrations, we’ll like to remind the public that we are still on lockdown for Lagos, Ogun and the FCT.
“The evidence so far from literatures shows that cessation of movement or lockdown is still the safest physical distancing measure when it comes to controlling the COVID-19 infection.
“After all, this is an infection that is invisible; a very social virus. It requires close interaction with each other.
“So if we can maintain that distancing, we might be able to fight it more effectively.”
He also called on state governments to see to the accreditation of both public and private healthcare facilities so that as many facilities as possible could be used in the fight against the spread of the virus.
“In terms of the medical side, I will like to advise state governments, working through the state task force teams or the state Ministry of Health, to consider setting up accreditation teams, particularly for private facilities.
“But also for public facilities for the simple reason that it is really important that our frontline healthcare staff know how to use PPE and know how to protect themselves from this infection.
“We are very keen to expand the availability of intensive care facilities beyond just the public sector, and I’m calling at this time on the private sector, particularly those in Lagos and Abuja, to approach us or their local authorities to get in contact with the accreditation teams that have been formed by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Lagos State Ministry of Health so that they can get accredited and we can start using their facilities in a proper way.
“I will also want to remind both public and private facilities to please continue to have a heightened awareness of possible cases of COVID-19 and this includes the public as well.
“If you notice unusual respiratory illnesses or clusters of death related to respiratory tract infection, we definitely will need to help,” he said.
Easing lockdown will fuel transmission, NMA tells govs
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) yesterday warned state governments not to relax the lockdown orders as doing so will only heighten the transmission of the coronavirus, because there is evidence of community transmission in the country.
The Association particularly noted with concern a comment credited to the Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade, that social distancing is not needed while wearing a face mask.
It will be recalled that some states governors had ordered the relaxation of the lockdown orders and approved mass observance of Jumat prayers and Easter Sunday services.
In a statement in Abuja yesterday, the President of NMA, Dr. Francis Faduyile, said: “The attention of the Nigerian Medical Association has been drawn to some isolated statements negating the established measure of preventing COVID-19 – social distancing; and orders by some state governors authorising the mass observance of Jumat prayers and Easter Sunday services.
“Of particular concern are the declaration by the Cross River State governor that social distancing is not needed while wearing a face mask; a moratorium on the lockdown to allow mass gathering in mosques and churches starting from Friday to Sunday in Rivers State; and the lifting of the ban on Friday prayers by Katsina and Kogi state governments.
“We are aware that similar orders have also been given in Ondo, Ebonyi and Imo states, which have approved mass attendance of Easter services.
“While appreciating the prime place of religion in our national lives and especially the value Christians place on Easter, we place on record that there is now the evidence of community transmission of COVID-19.
“As such, relaxing any guideline that promotes mass gatherings in any part of our nation now can only heighten and not flatten the curve of transmission dynamics.
“We therefore pray all authorities concerned to rescind their decision in the interest of safety of lives and implore the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies to ensure that such gatherings do not take place.
