FG Warns Nigerians As COVID-19 Cases Rises

The Federal Government has warned Nigerians to take responsibility for their health as COVID-19 cases continued to rise in the country.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunmimbe Mamora, who stated this in an interview on Thursday, stated that among other measures, there was the need for Nigerians to take responsibility for their actions to tackle coronavirus.

Mamora said this as COVID-19 cases continued to increase, with the country recording 5,398 infections between December 6 and 15.

Data obtained from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Thursday indicated a sharp increase in infections as only 739 cases were recorded between November 26 and December 5, indicating a 630.45 per cent increase within 10 days.

When asked what the Federal Government would do in view of the increase in cases, Mamora stated that the government would continue to strengthen existing measures.

He said, “It’s essential to strengthen the existing measures through advocacy, awareness creation, education and emphasis on the need for people to take responsibility for their health.”

The PUNCH had on Thursday reported that no fewer than 107 inbound passengers to Nigeria tested positive for COVID-19 in the last one week.

According to the report, between November 25 and December 4, the country recorded 749 cases of COVID-19.

Between December 5 and December 14, the cases recorded were 4,029 representing 437.92 per cent increase over the previous 10 days.

Commenting on the rising cases, the President, Guild of Medical Directors, Dr Abiodun Kuti, said they might be as a result of people coming into the country from Europe and the United States of America.

Kuti, in an interview with one of our correspondents, said, “The influx of Nigerians coming from Europe and America for the festive period will definitely increase the spread of Omicron variant in the country. These countries have high exposure levels already.”

Meanwhile, the Bauchi State government has said that it will soon get 350,000 COVID-19 booster doses from the Federal Government.

The Executive Secretary of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Rilwan Mohammed, disclosed this on Thursday at the third Annual Research Day and Scientific Conference of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi.

The theme for the 2021 conference is: “Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine hesitancy in developing countries: Latest evidence and future direction.”

Mohammed who is also the Chairman, Contact and Surveillance Sub-Committee of the Bauchi State Task Force on COVID-19, said the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency would soon supply the booster doses to the state pointing out that the booster shots would only be administered to those who had taken their first and second jabs of COVID-19 vaccines, to further protect them against the Omicron variant.

He said,, “Even if you are vaccinated, you can get infected with the mutant Omicron variant of COVID-19, however, the good thing is that people that were vaccinated will not get the severe form of the Omicron variant.

“To prevent Omicron variant, the only way is to do the booster dose and the federal government will send about 350,000 booster doses next week to Bauchi State.”

The Executive Chairman described COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy as a major problem because even the most educated people including healthcare workers were yet to take the vaccine.