Covid-19: Methodist cleric advocates compulsory test for people from 50 years

As the number of coronavirus infection keeps rising every day, the President Vision Africa International, Sunday Onuoha (Bishop of Methodist Church, Nigeria) has advocated for compulsory tests nationwide for people between the age of 50 and above.

Onuoha, who made the call on the sidelines of increasing cases of COVID-19 recorded in the country, said through this, people infected by the virus could be easily identified on time while isolation and immediate treatment of the patients would commence.

The Co-Chair, Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace, called on the Federal and State governments to as a matter of urgency and public safety heed the call, while advising that it was the only way further spread of the virus could be checked. He added that the spread had reached its alarming rate as people are now leaving in fear of discerning those with the virus.

Onuoha also reminded government at all levels of various predictions made by the World Health Organisation (WHO) concerning number of persons estimated to die in Africa if the virus should hit the continent badly, noting that Nigeria could avert such from happening if the call for a nationwide testing of persons from 50 years and above was heeded.

He pointed out that most countries of the world that were out of the woods nipped it in the bud by carrying out compulsory tests for the aged.

Recall that at the weekend, Bishop Onuoha had coined a new name for coronavirus through a question poser, “Who Are You Wary Of?” “Ama ndi Ana’eze”. The question was borne out of the fact that it is hard to discern if a close family member, mother, father, son, daughter has the virus because it does not show on the face.