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Omicron COVID-19: NCDC explains new variant, urges Nigerians on protective measures

Omicron COVID-19 Variant Photo: Axios

*The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has said it is monitoring emerging evidence on the new COVID-19 variant Omicron reportedly first identified in Southern Africa recently

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Against the backdrop of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) Omicron variant said to be “considered highly transmissible”, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has disclosed that it is monitoring emerging evidence on the new variant reportedly first identified in Southern Africa recently.

ConsumerConnect reports that subsequent to the emergence of the new variant Omicron, the development has already triggered a new wave of travel restrictions targeted at Nigeria, and other countries in Southern Africa.

The NCDC in a statement said: “This SARS-CoV-2 variant has now been designated a variant of concern (VOC) and named; Omicron by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as advised by the independent Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE).

“WHO has also urged countries to enhance their surveillance and virus sequencing efforts to increase their understanding of the circulating variants.

“The FMOH and NCDC are monitoring emerging evidence on this new variant and its implication, to inform Nigeria’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

However, in clarifying the status of the West African country in respect of the alleged case of the Omicron variant, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, Director-General of NCDC, further said, “the fears about its ability to evade protective immune responses and/or its being vaccine-resistant are only theoretical so far.”

Still, the NCDC Chief urged Nigerians to take necessary precautionary measures to protect themselves against the raging disease.

“WHO and researchers across the world are working at speed to gain understanding of the likely impact of this variant on the severity of COVID-19 and on the potency of existing vaccines and therapeutics,” Dr. Adetifa said.

The health regulatory agency also stated that Nigerian consumers should “make every use of the currently available opportunities to get vaccinated against COVID-19.”

It also reiterated the need for citizens to adhere to public health and social measures such as the wearing of face masks, hand washing, and physical distancing.

He said : “Avoid travel to countries where there is a surge in COVID-19 cases or reported cases of the Omicron variant.

“Avoid all non-essential travel both local and international. If you must travel, please adhere to travel protocols instituted by the PSC-COVID-19 which are in place to prevent the risk of importation of the virus or its variants to Nigeria.”

The agency added: “The virus is more likely to spread where people gather and do not adhere to these measures.

“Therefore we appeal to business owners, religious leaders, and people in authority to take responsibility by ensuring people in their premises wear masks and adhere to physical distancing.

“We must do all we can to protect ourselves and our country.”

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