x

COVID-19 Lockdown: NCDC re-emphasises goals

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has re-emphasised that COVID-19 lockdown was not to end the disease but to keep people apart to stop its transmission to an extent and to build public health response efficiency.

READ ALSO: UK dismisses 5G, coronavirus claims as nonsense

Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director-General of NCDC, made the assertion while speaking on Sunrise Daily programme on Channels Television on Thursday morning.

“The goal of the lockdown is not to get to the end of this outbreak because that is not a realistic goal.

“On the goal of the lockdown, there are two things.

“Firstly, to keep people a little bit apart so that we stop transmission to some extent.

“And even though the lockdown has not been perfect, we have also some indicators to show that we are mixing a lot less,” he said.

“There are some analysis from Google that shows us that in many of the places that we need to congregate it is down by 60, 70 per cent .

“There is no doubt that there is less contact between individuals and that has hopefully had an impact on transmission.’’

On the second goal for the lockdown, Ihekweazu said: “It is to enable the public health response to build up its efficiency.

“That is what we are really focused on in the last two weeks and what we must work very hard on in the next 10 days is to make sure that  we finalise.

“This is so that this whole chain can work seamlessly.

“So, this is just to let  everyone to know that, we are not anticipating that in the next 10 days, we will get to zero .

“We are anticipating that we will have a public health response that can work while slowly people start going about their small businesses,’’ he said.

The NCDC director-general said it was unlikely that everything, including businesses, schools, markets, airports and others would reopen on the same day after the lockdown directive would have been lifted.

According to him, it will be a gradual, carefully, calibrated reopening of the economy.

He urged Nigerians to continue to wash their hands with soap and clean running water, use hand sanitisers, observe social distancing and other hygiene measures recommended to keep the virus at bay.

Hot this week

Editors Urge Government To Create Safe, Enabling Environment For Journalists

· Ask security agents to find missing Vanguard journalist As...

EXCLUSIVE: Buhari orders probe of Isa Funtua, AMCON over keystone and Etisalat

Following the controversy generated by the leading opposition party,...

6 Signs your boyfriend thinks you are ugly -Take note of No. 2

They say there are three kinds of people; the...

2023: South-East, Middle Belt Forum Endorses Peter Obi

The South-East and Middle Belt Forum has endorsed the...

Scrabble Stars Battle for N10m at Gov. Diri Championship

By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa Top Scrabble players from across Nigeria...

Northern CAN Leaders Visit Benue, Reject ‘Herders-Farmers Clash’ Narrative

...Pledge sustained advocacy...“Your presence is Christ sitting with us”...

Expect More Development — Gov. Aliyu Assures Sokoto Residents

By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State...

We Have Brought Inclusive Development to Plateau — Governor Mutfwang

By Israel Adamu, Jos The people of Plateau State made...

NYSC Is the Thread Binding Nigeria’s Diversity” — Gov. Diri

By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri,...

What’s the Best Age for a Man to Get Married? Here’s What We Found

Marriage is one of the most significant milestones in...

Nurses Suspend Nationwide Strike – Health Minister Confirms

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives has...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img