Chairman of Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha has revealed factors that contributed to the recent spike in infections in Nigeria.
Speaking on Monday January 11 during a media briefing in Abuja, Mustapha stated that the reopening of schools and religious centres without adherence to safety protocols contributed to the rise in COVID-19 cases across the country.
He noted that reopening of airports and increased local and international travels also fuelled the rise in coronavirus cases from late November 2020.
Mustapha stressed;
It is however very instructive to stress that factors that have contributed to rise in numbers from late November 2020 included increased local and international travels, business and religious activities, reopening of schools without strict compliance with COVID-19 safety measures.
Since early December, there has been a spike in coronavirus cases across Africa’s most populous country, an indication that the country had entered the second wave of the pandemic.
According to PremiumTimes, one in every six persons (16 per cent) tested for COVID-19 in Nigeria in the past two weeks tested positive, indicating how fast the virus is spreading.
Health experts believe the lowering of guard on safety and the weak enforcement of protocols especially in the country’s major airports in Abuja and Lagos could be responsible for the development.
They warn that the situation could get worse if citizens keep violating safety protocols.
Read Also: COVID-19 Second Wave: ‘January Will Be A Tough Month’ – NCDC
The federal government recently warned that a significant increase in COVID-19 infections in Nigeria appears imminent this January due to the violation of safety protocols during the festive period.
To tackle this, federal authorities have ordered the reopening of all isolation and treatment centres.
FG also reintroduced new restrictions to check the spread of the virus, including the closure of bars and nightclubs and limiting the number of people allowed in a public gathering.
