FG, states should provide free face masks, sanitizers Don’t rush to the streets – Experts Our actions key to survival – Doctors PDP caucus wants lockdown extended Government and economic activities will resume today amid fear of a spike as the federal government eases the lockdown imposed on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and Ogun states that lasted five weeks to stem the spread of coronavirus. Many of the remaining 34 states that took different measures to restrict movement have also keyed into the federal government’s template of directing civil servants from certain grade level to resume work today and granted banks, manufacturing and servicing companies to operate for certain hours daily.

The planned reopening of the Nigerian economy, just like what obtains in other climes has been trailed by mixed reactions with experts saying there would be spike in COVID-19 infection in the event people refused to adhere to safety measures. They stressed that public compliance was critical to maintaining the gains of the five weeks long lockdown.

There have been growing concerns that the opening of the economy may lead to further spread especially as the country continue to witness spike in cases. The federal government and governments of Lagos, Ogun and the FCT have instituted measures to be observed in public places to protect the citizens from the disease. President Muhammadu Buhari had last Monday announced a phased and gradual easing of the lockdown in Lagos and Ogun states as well as the FCT from today.

Following his directive to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to provide implementation guidelines on the new measures to control the pandemic, the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, issued guidelines for the public, states and security agencies and description of the types of activities allowed under Phase one (4th -17th May, 2020) and other phases. The advisory in the first phase had, among others, made the use of non-medical face mask/covering mandatory for all persons while in public spaces.

The order directed the prosecution of anyone without a face mask/covering, including those who violated the 8.00 pm- 6.00 am curfew as well as anyone attending a gathering of more than 20 people or violates the ban on inter-state movement. Free face mask will reduce spread A medical practitioner and Coordinator, Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), Dr. Aminu Magashi, said government should produce and distribute face masks to local people including cab and bus drivers. He said the FCT and other state governments should also ensure all shopping malls have hand washing spots and sanitisers and direct them to avoid over-crowding in shops.

A virologist with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof. Sunday Omilabu, urged the populace to wash their hands regularly with soap and water or use hand sanitisers where hand washing was not possible. “People should continue with the precautions they learnt during the lockdown. Avoid large gatherings, no handshakes and if there must be handshakes, both parties should wash their hands thoroughly. Don’t stay too close inside buses and offices,” he advised.

He advised the government to enforce compliance in order to check spread of the virus. People should be wary of going out The Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Ogun State, Dr. Ismail Lawal, has expressed worry that the federal government relaxed the lockdown when COVID-19 cases were on the increase. He however, pointed out that the ease was a “political solution” to the lockdown when the federal and state governments lacked the capacity to provide for “those they asked to sit at home.”

Lawal said that the new cases were as a result of community transmission, adding that it could be curtailed if Nigerians adhered strictly to precautionary measures during the eased lockdown. “Much work has to be done by the security agents to enforce compliance by the residents,” Lawal said. The President of Africa Fertility Society, Prof. Ashiru Oladapo, said people should not be in a hurry to go out after the lockdown. He said COVID-19 an asymptomatic person could transmit the virus to other people unknowingly. “Every country wants to compare the difference between health and economy.

Unfortunately, if people don’t have life, there can be no economy. The smart countries are focusing on having life. When a country shuts down quickly, they don’t lockdown for a long time; but when it takes a country a long time to shutdown, that country will lockdown for a long time. “Countries who opened up like Nigeria end up having a second wave of infection, which is even greater than the first one and that is the pattern for communicable diseases,” he said.

Giving an instance, the professor said, in 1918 when the Spanish flu broke out, some cities including San Francisco were on lockdown. “But while others continued to be on lockdown, they (San Francisco) opened and the infection came back with a vengeance and affected more people. Many lost their lives.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/as-govt-offices-economy-open-today-what-nigerians-must-do-to-avoid-covid-19-spread.html

Giving an instance, the professor said, in 1918 when the Spanish flu broke out, some cities including San Francisco were on lockdown. “But while others continued to be on lockdown, they (San Francisco) opened and the infection came back with a vengeance and affected more people. Many lost their lives

If our health system was up to par, we would have been able to totally eliminate the possibility of a re-surge of spread. But there's only so long that you can lock people out of their chance at financial survival before you incur their wrath and have more than a pandemic in your hands i.e Riots, Revolts, Crime and Violence surging; seeing that our leaders are both strategically, logistically and morally bankrupt to provide an enablement for continued lockdown.

So power to stay alive (returns back to the people); while you should not stigmatize against people or use observational diagnosis (like Kano) on people, but keep a safe possible distance from people and USE ALL PPE reasonable to your work environment. No go wear hazmat suit go Court sha.

Just stay calm, stay Safe, don't be a COVIDIOT.

Person don tired of all this Corona palava self

We will survive.

If your are lagos, Kano Abj, if at home will be better for now

seunlayi:
If your are lagos, Kano Abj, if at home will be better for now

Easier said than done. At least they can get better if they get infected, but if they don't take the risk to hustle and make earns meet, they and their families Ms die of hunger virus.

God pls, Heal the World!
Save Your Children!
That's My Prayer for Everyone this Morning as they go out to Fend for themselves...Amen!

Please stay at home if you can afford to.

This too shall pass!