By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Ahead of the upsurge in end of the year travels in the mist of another global resurgence of the COVID- 19 pandemic the Federal Government has strongly warned against citizens trips to high risk countries. This was disclosed on Monday at the National Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 23rd National press briefing by the Chairman Boss Mustapha. Within the last two weeks, flights from Europe (the Air France, Lufthansa and KLM) resumed their operations into Nigeria.
Mustapha said, “Ahead of the upsurge in travels for the Christmas and New Year festivities, we urge strongly that for this year, such trips should be put on hold firmly because of the risks involved. The transmission rate has simply become astronomical.” “Now that European airlines have joined others operating into Nigeria, the PTF still considers it highly necessary to caution as always, against non-essential trips (especially to high burden destinations) because the world is now experiencing a new wave of the pandemic, more than ever before.
There will always be many more festive seasons to celebrate.”
PTF also discouraged large social gatherings during the Christmas and New Year festivities, large social gathering because of a bigger risk of COVID-19 transmission. “New clusters of cases can emerge in places that have so far been unaffected as people travel and gather for festivities. But we can lower the risks by adhering to the NPIs and celebrate, safely. “He noted that the various guidelines and the testing regime prescribed for in-bound passengers shall remain strictly in force.
He further informed that Nigeria is watching the global race to find an effective vaccine, ensure equitable and fair access of persons to the vaccine, while participating in experience sharing, awareness creation and the strengthening of collaborative platforms. He that the PTF is taking the COVID-19 awareness to the doorstep of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, NIREC, on Thursday 26th November, 2020 to address issues of risk communication and Community engagement.
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