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NCDC alerts Nigerians non-adherence to safety measures worsening spread of COVID-19

*The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control stresses that the virus that causes COVID-19 never went away and is still very much with us, as evidenced by the rising cases in Nigeria and globally

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

Concerned by recent increases in virus cases, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), again, has alerted the citizenry that apparent non-adherence to public health and social measures and protocols is worsening the public health response efforts at limited the continued spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) among the population.

The health and disease control agency in its Public Health Advisory published Monday night, disclosed that had hit unenviable 100,087 confirmed cases, with 1,358 deaths as of January 10, 2021.

According to the NCDC, since January 2021, Nigeria has recorded a consistent increase in the number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus disease.

The average number of daily confirmed cases recorded in the first week of January 2021, was higher than the cumulative cases recorded the last week of December 2020, it stated.

The agency said: “While the public may be tired of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact, the virus is taking advantage of the fatigue and complacency, instead gaining momentum and taking advantage of lapses in the adherence to the public health measures.

“To prevent the further spread of COVID-19, the public is reminded to wear a face mask properly, wash hands with soap and water, and physically distance from others. This is not the time to let down our guard.

“The virus that causes COVID-19 never went away and is still very much with us, as evidenced by the rising cases in Nigeria and globally.”

The agency further noted that the virus can affect all age groups with severe outcomes in the elderly (50 years and above), and in persons with co-morbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, etc.

The NCDC, however, cautioned the populace that there had been increased infection among the younger age groups, as it advocated that all persons take responsibility and adhere to the non-pharmaceutical interventions, including regular hand washing, maintaining physical distance and proper use of face mask.

Meanwhile, the health and disease control body has pledged to continue to work with other agencies under the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Health, in leading the public health response to the outbreak.

“Following the festive season, and in view of the increase in the number of confirmed cases in Nigeria, the NCDC and partners, with leadership from the Federal Ministry of Health and Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 is putting in place measures to strengthen the public health response to the pandemic,” it stated.

The NCDC said it was working closely with state governments, providing support through the deployment of Rapid Response Teams, provision of laboratory and medical supplies as well as other response activities.

It added: “We urge state governments to take greater ownership of their response, maintaining their COVID-19 surveillance structures, laboratory diagnosis and testing. “Unless states actively test, they will not know their disease burden, putting local communities at greater risk of adverse outcomes, if the virus is not detected and impacts vulnerable.”

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