The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 says the real impact that the recent relaxation of economic activities would have on Nigeria’s coronavirus figures is expected to manifest in 10-14 days time.
The National Coordinator of the task force agency, Sani Aliyu, explained that the outcome on the numbers would determine whether or not to enact a stricter measure on compliance level or not.
“We are monitoring closely the decision of the lockdown and the outcome we get in 10-14 days time will determine our recommendation to the president on whether or not stricter measures should be applied,” Sanni said.
After five weeks of a complete lockdown of economic activities in order to contain the spread of the virus, President Buhari announced a gradual easing of the lockdown to commence Monday 4th, in other to tame the effect of the pandemic on the economy which the International Monetary Fund(IMF) says would contract by as much as 3.4 percent in 2020.
So far, Africa’s largest economy has had over 2900 of its populace infected with the deadly disease including 481 recovered cases and 98 deaths, with three of the country’s states being the most affected, Lagos, Kano and Abuja.
Sanni noted that although there has been an increase in the numbers of the outbreak reported, the over 300 cases reported across the country since the easing, are impact from those contracted in about 2 weeks ago.
“Since the incubation period for the virus is 14 days, cases reported now are those that were contracted when the lockdown was still on,” Sani said.
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The decision to ease the lockdown came after various criticisms from economists whole holds the view that with the high rate of poverty and unemployment as well as the high level of other diseases that has ravaged the continent outside the coronavirus pandemic, Nigeria and Africa at large, cannot cope with a continued lockdown.
Their views stem from the fact that given the country’s already stretched finances, caused by the pandemic; the huge informal sector and country’s poor identity management system which has stood as a setback in successfully channeling anyform of palliative from the government to the less privileged in the society, 60 percent of those in the country population feed on what they earn daily hence a lockdown would be devastating to their livelihood.
Charles Soludo, one time governor of the Central Bank and member of the Economic Advisory Team (EAC), noted in his article, that a continued lockdown would affect the livelihoods of the majority of the population.
He argued that with the livelihoods of people being threatened, it would hinder their ability to feed properly. When this happened, it would translate into weakening their immune system which is the condition needed to fight the virus.
Soludo however, advocated an relaxation of the lockdown to ensure a balance between health and economy.
But even though the easing came with various measures that must be adhered, including a compulsory wearing of facemask, social distancing, as well as constant washing of the hands; this has not been adhered by many, a development which the PTF boss fears may escalate the system.
Following the relaxation, many Nigerians crowded the bank to carry out one form of financial services or the other. This is despite the fact that online transactions of the banks were all available to carry out the needed financial services.
Aside from the crowd in most banks, some were seen in clusters in bus stops to get to their various businesses, violating the rule on social distancing.
In the Northern state of Gomber, there were reported cases of social upheaval, with many protesting poor state of isolation centres in the state.
Sani who in an interview on Sunrise Daily, in the early hours of Wednesday, said generally, the compliance levels across the states have been low.
Sani while citing the various incidents that have happened across the states said the rules to curtailing the spread must be done holistically rather than in separation.
“You cannot say you are wearing a facemask and not complying with social distancing yet feel you aren’t exposed to contracting the virus. In order not to exposed, one must adhere to all the measures and not doing one and leaving the order,” said Sani.
He explained that his agency is working with various state governments and has mobilized over 3000 persons, to embark on aggressive awareness and communications in a way and manner that best suit each state.
“We have also conducted infectious training to medical personnel and sent a large number of personal protective equipment to various states especially to Kano which has been of great concern to us,” Sani said.
He urged the private sector and individuals to go into the production of facemasks, gloves among others, so as to help in bridging the gap rather than waiting on the government alone.
According to him, the pandemic “is far from being over”, hence people need to take it seriously.
“If you do not have something important to do, stay at home because the more you go out, the more you get exposed to the virus and spread it to the elderly in the families that are prone to the its severity” Sani added.
