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Covid-19: January will be tough, Nigerians should brace themselves- NCDC
By Modupe Shodeinde
The Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control be (NCDC), on Monday warned Nigerians to be prepared for the consequences of disregard for safety protocols, as January would be a very tough month.
The centre expressed concern over the total disregard of Nigerians for safety protocols against the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, during the PTF briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, told reporters of the upsurge in cases recorded in the country, last week.
“We have just faced the worst week since we started responding to this outbreak. We had more cases in Nigeria last week than in any other previous week since the beginning of the outbreak.
“Just looking at pictures, images and videos from across the country is a very disheartening situation because it appears that our messaging and our appeals to Nigerians over the last few months have not been heeded, and we have gone ahead with business as usual.
“Event centres, social facilities are full; so it is no surprise that cases are rising.
According to him, lack of oxygen and bed spaces in treatment centres is making it difficult to manage cases.
“Every night, we are faced with phone calls of patients desperate for care. So, unfortunately, January will be a tough month for all of us.
It will be tough, but we still have an opportunity to do what we need to do.” he said.
“January will be a tough month no doubt about it. So we have to brace ourselves for the consequences of the activities that we have decided to carry out in December.” he added.
Ihekweazu said the centre has been liaising with governors to be more purposeful in implementing the measures to curb the spread of the pandemic.
He lamented that despite the grim outlook, many state governments failed to enforce safety protocols, especially on social gatherings, which the people failed to obey.
The Chairman of the PTF and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, said the 52nd week of the national response witnessed the highest recorded cases of confirmed infection in the country.
“Our National Response is passing through a challenging phase due to the seriousness of the second wave of infections in Nigeria.” he said.
He, however, said the PTF is working on critical issues including oxygen supply and case management, taking into consideration the increasing number of infections and hospitalization.
He urged Nigerians to exercise utmost restraint by taking responsibility.
