By Joyce Remi- Babayeju
The FCT Administration has emphasised that it’s stance on COVID-19 non -pharmaceutical protocols such as minimising physical contact, keeping social distances, wearing facemasks, and hand washing, to stem escalation of the pandemic in the territory still remains.
FCTA insists that residents and other stakeholders must observe precautions, by continuing to be aware of established specific and simple preventive measures.
Secretary of FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS), Dr. Abubakar Tafida, made this known yesterday while updating journalists on the 4th wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the FCT.
Tafida noted that about three weeks ago, the FCTA concluded that the Territory is into the forth wave, following a rising number of cases.
He disclosed that as Sunday December 19, 2021, FCT had a total of 84 cases, which brought cumulative cases so far confirmed in the FCT since the first wave to about 24,861.
“Now we have 1,246 active cases. We noted an additional 13 cases in the past 24 hours. In terms of people or cases on admission, we have a total of 105; 92 of this number are in the Dome, 13 at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, this signifies the severity of the conditions, so preparedness is key to effectively handling the pandemic.”
“So you can see that within the span of three weeks, we are having almost a thousand plus, so if we continue to neglect these preventive measures, the situation might become very alarming and difficult to handle.”
He said, “In our last meeting, we looked at the current situation, the increasing number of cases, what we have been doing, and we have developed strategies, which are in consonance with scientific and other data available to us. ”
“As we are going through this wave, the emphasis still is we need to take precautions ourselves. This is very important. The public must continue to be aware of these specific and simple preventive measures.”
He stated ,” FCTA is enjoining all stakeholders including security, traditional, religious leaders, people of note , to ensure that they are supporting this effort, by imploring and advising people to continue to observe these measures.”
Tafida emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic has created a lot of global upheaval charaterised with lots of agitations, destructions , death and socioeconomic hardships.
He noted aside from Lagos State , FCT is next in line of preparedness and providing leadership and other support for the pandemic.
“We are making plans and preparations for expected new cases, and we have adequate bed spaces for what we have forecasted.
We made adequate arrangement for both medical and consumable supplies, Tafida assured.
