The Federal Government has warned the #EndSARS protesters to be mindful of the risk for COVID-19 infection due to the manners of theirs engagement that defies the virus protection guidelines.
The Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chike Ihekweazu, gave the warning at the joint national briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 on Thursday in Abuja.
Demonstrations against police brutality have taken place in cities across Nigeria in the past week despite the disbandment of the dreaded outfit, especially by the youths.
Ihekweazu said, “The number of new cases we will have will be determined by our own behaviour and the circumstances that we find ourselves. So, right now we are reopening schools, schools by definition means you are going to have more people in confined spaces. We have published guidelines together with the Federal Ministry of Education to mitigate those risks. How effectively there are implemented will mean if there will be more transmission or less.
“You can see some of the demonstrations happening across the country. The virus doesn’t know whether you are young or old, policeman or a demonstrator, it uses the opportunity to jump from persons to persons.
“So, we will continue to advise everyone, wherever you are to continue to wear mask, you can still have you voice heard if you are wearing a mask. Whatever the circumstances, whether you are managing school or NYSC camps or outside, the important thing is to continue to carry out these public health measures.”
Speaking on the reported second wave of the pandemic across the world, the NCDC boss said that the second wave in Nigeria is inevitable but it won’t happen just because it is happening in Europe.
According to him, this will only happen in the country based on citizens’ behaviour and ability to manage it.
He said, “So, as we open up our offices, the onus is on the leaders of each office, to determine whether you will come into that room with a mask or without a mask. They will determine where there will be sanitizing system in that room or not.
“So, a lot of leadership will be required as we go into the next phase of easing the lockdowns.”
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