The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has asked for safety rules to be followed during Eid-el-Kabir to stop the third wave of COVID-19.
The government issued a public health advisory on Friday.
It said the advice was required considering the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Nigeria and abroad, adding that religious organizations, community leaders, and Nigerians, in general, should take precautions ahead of Eid-el-Kabir celebrations
According to the latest situation report from the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of weekly COVID-19 cases has increased globally for the third consecutive week. Similarly, our national surveillance system has detected a gradual increase in the number of daily COVID-19 cases recorded in the country. The advice also said that our national surveillance system has seen a gradual rise in the number of daily COVID-19 cases in the country.
Although confirmed cases grew from 267 to 445 between weeks 21 and 24, hospitalization and fatalities have remained low, suggesting they are primarily mild to moderate cases or we are in the lag period before we observe a surge in severe disease and hospitalization.
Since Nigeria’s first case was officially reported on February 27, 2020, by NCDC, we’ve had 256,695 confirmed cases with 3,144 deaths throughout 36 states and the FCT. Genomic surveillance reveals Omicron and its offspring (sub lineages) remain the leading circulating variants of concern related to the spread of the disease in the country.
“The current increase in cases may be in part or whole due to increased testing over the last several weeks; increased circulation of Omicron sub-lineages (BA.4 and BA.5); and an increase in seasonal illness with cold and cough symptoms, as well as poor adherence to preventive measures such as mask use.”
“In addition to the COVID-19 situation in Nigeria and globally, the impending Eid-El-Kabir celebrations against a backdrop of inadequate COVID-19 vaccination uptake and increasing COVID-19 case numbers call for enhanced individual and societal accountability.”
COVID-19 is more likely to spread in huge gatherings and when people don’t take preventive measures like physical distance, masks, and hand cleanliness.
“As we celebrate, we urge Nigerians to prevent the onset of a full-fledged fifth COVID-19 wave by remaining mindful of the high risk of COVID-19’s spread and acting in tandem by adhering to recommended public health safety measures.”
