The federal government has declared that it will review further reopening of the economy, on the back of the spikes in the number of coronavirus infection, as the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 PTF, is set to present its report to President Muhammadu Buhari, next week Tuesday.
Government said it has also put all essential health workers on alert and began the process of reactivating all the Isolation centers across the country, following the spike.
Acting Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 containment, PTF COVID-19, and Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, disclosed that the PTF held the end of term technical session last week, which afforded it the opportunity to assess the progress made, as well as the dangers confronting the country
He announced that “The Report of the PTF will be submitted to the President on Tuesday, 22nd December, 2020, adding that ” current realities however point to the fact that the course of further opening up of the economy may have to be reviewed”
He disclosed that the government is also engaging the local communities to persuade them to understand that it is in their own interest to accept the vaccines.
He noted that the resistance was not peculiar with Nigeria, as other countries have witnessed similar resistance.
Sirika said federal government has waved off certain fees, such as ground rent and Service recovery charges in addition to the N5b funds allocated to assist operators in the aviation industry.
Health Minister, Osagie Ehanire, reiterated that health workers have been placed on standby to tackle the rising surge of the Covid-19 in the country, even as he warned against non-essential travels during the festive seasons to curb the impact of the pandemic.
Ehanire stressed that Nigeria is not yet out of the woods and this calls for serious concern.
“Following this new surge the Ministry of Health is working with Federal tertiary health hospitals on the reactivation of all treatment centers. We are accessing resources available and resources needed, we are alerting frontline health workers to be on standby. We are strengthening the home care treatment for asymptomatic and mild cases,” the Minister said.
He pointed out that the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases continues to rise with the total number 75,062 as of Thursday morning. He said that a record number of 930 new confirmed cases were diagnosed on Wednesday December 16, which was the highest number recorded since the virus was detected in February 2020.
“The Covid curve is rising with a total number of active cases now 7,087 and there is a corresponding number and seriousness of cases requiring hospital admission in high dependency units for oxygen treatment or in ICU for mechanical ventilation. If we include those in hospital with severe symptoms being observed, the need for more hospital beds will become acute and this is an indication of what the second wave is,” he said.
Ehanire noted that a technical working group is examining modalities to obtain access to vaccines for Nigeria; saying “we are in conversation with WHO GAVY on the Covidcovax facility to support 170 lower, middle and low income countries which Nigeria belongs to access anti-covid vaccines.”
He urged all Nigerians to do all they can to stay in their homes except they have a very urgent case or a very good reason to want to travel because in order to minimize the risks of the pandemic.
“As the times of festive seasons and holiday approach, the risks will increase many will want to crowd into shops, markets, places of worship, many will want to travel including from high burden countries. All these are circumstances that have proven worldwide to accelerate Covid 19 transmission and they have caused explosive increases in Covid in other countries,” he warned.
He assured that Nigeria has made arrangement for a public-private and external funding mechanism for the payment for the vaccines for Nigerian citizens adding that the World Bank has also made resources available, while African Union has also made available resources for about 60% of those who might require the vaccines especially for lower, middle and low income countries where Nigeria belongs, which have been assured of about 20% vaccines that is required.
The National Coordinator of the PTF, Sani Aliyu, condemned the high rate of infections which he said is majorly caused by the youths who wouldn’t adhere to non pharmaceutical intervention.
On the reopening of borders, Aliyu blamed the current increase in the coronavirus wave on community transmission, as against speculations that the increase is propelled by those arriving the country from other countries.
He therefore, urged the youth to change their behavior by complying with the use of PPEs, as effection is primarily link to young people due to mass gathering and non adherence to preventive measures
While urging everyone to take responsibility, Sani called on state governors to implement the non pharmaceutical intervention, stop Mass gathering, open treatment and sample collection centers.
Also the NCDC boss Chikwe Ikekwazu, called on both public and private sector to implement and enforce Covid-19 preventive measures.
He also charged leaders of various organizations on the enforcement of the PPEs as well as temperature checks, wearing of facemask, hand washing and social distancing
He further advised that people postpone non essential celebration and travelings
“People should postpone celebrations, including burials till next year and if you must celebrate, you should take responsibility to ensure compliance to the non pharmaceutical intervention” He concluded
