By Ayodele Oni
The Federal Government, on Thursday, doused tension among Nigerians as it announced that it was not considering a lockdown despite rising cases of COVID-19 infections across the country.
Speaking at the weekly ministerial briefing in Abuja, Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, confirmed that there were fresh recorded cases, but not threatening enough for a lockdown to be considered.
On Wednesday, Nigeria had recorded 790 cases of new COVID-19 infections, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
The figure was the highest in about six months.
In Ekiti state, the state government has imposed restrictions following escalating rise in covid-19 cases in the state within two months.
Governor Kayode Fayemi, in a statement early in the week said “In the month of July, we recorded ninety-five (95) cases, and we have now recorded 71 cases in the first week of August. 71 cases in just 6 days.
“We are obviously experiencing the third wave with more cases than we experienced in the second wave in March 2021.”
According to the minister, countries have become circumspect with imposing total lockdown as it was seen at the onset of the outbreak.
He added that administrators would rather employ precision lockdowns on specific areas of the country under threat.
He attributed the current increase to recent surge in infections attributed to the Delta variant, which is believed to be more contagious and deadlier.
Nigeria is expected to step up its Covid vaccination program after receiving over four million doses of the Moderna vaccine from the US government last week.
Only about one percent of the population has been vaccinated, so far.
The second phase of the national vaccination programme is expected to kick-off next Monday.
The Minister also said that Nigeria is not only relying on donated vaccines from other entities as it has benefitted from vaccines donated by COVAX and the US.
“Nigeria has procured nearly 40 million doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine through the African Union.”
He also assured those who have taken the first shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine of the availability of second doses by the end of August when 3.9 million doses of the vaccine type is expected to arrive the country.
Speaking on the ongoing strike by resident doctors across the country, he disclosed yhaty the Federal government would implement a ‘no work, no pay’ rule.
“Doctors, under the aegis of the National Association of Resident Doctors, should obliterate the option of strike as a tool to resolve their issues.
“Doctors should consider other options in the interest of the country, particularly at a time the country is in a war situation.”
The Pandemic resurfaced at a time Nigerian Resident Doctors are on strike. Meanwhile, the President, Muhammadu Buhari is away to the United Kingdom for Medical attention.
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