Easing the Lockdown in Nigeria
HOW PREPARED ARE WE AS A NATION??
At a time like this when the confines of our homes seem to be the safest place of abode, are we really ready to take to the streets?. From the already existing facts about the Covid 19 pandemic, several inferences can be drawn which will to a great extent answer the question stated earlier. The spread of the virus across different states in the Nation has brought about no other choice but that everyone stays home so as to stay safe and protected from been infected. For several weeks now, the roads have been empty and there has been a halt to virtually all activities especially those involving contact with individuals. As a means to curb the spread of the virus and to profer medical attention to the infected ones, we all have been advised to remain at home while the air is cleared. Therefore, taking a critical look at the turn out of events, how advisable is it that we take to the streets now.
In few hours from now, based on the directives of the Federal Government, many individuals will take to the street and this in a sense marks the beginning of an entirely new experience and an end to that which was previously obtainable. As the clock ticks, many cannot help but wonder how the events of the day will eventually play out. The situation may be likened to a patient who's awaiting a doctor's report not knowing what to expect. Running through the mind of such an individual is a myriad of thoughts as to what the diagnosis might be and how just one minute of knowing could bring about a drastic change in such a life.
Many have come to agree with the fact that the government had to make such a decision because of the level of unrest caused by the stay home order. Several occurrences of theft and violence in different parts of the Nation, citizens clamouring for the need to go out to fend for their needs, students across different levels can't wait to get back to their classrooms amongst other economically related crisis taking it's toll on the Nation as a whole. However valid these points are, certain facts exist which in honest consideration and without an iota of diplomacy will enable us arrive at a probable answer to the question posed.
First of, we will look into the issue of decontamination of our roads, streets, offices etc. As far as I know, no measure was put in place to decontaminate our environment during the periods of the lock down. If indeed we believe that certain surfaces touched by infected individuals could serve as routes for transmission of this virus, it is therefore a necessary task to see to the decontamination of every area people will interact with as they go about their daily routine. Failure to do this shows our level of preparedness to get back to our normal lives which if you will agree with me is nothing to write home about.
Looking at the statistics of infected individuals from the reports released by the NCDC for several days now, it wouldn't be wrong to say that we are at the height of the plague with numerous number of people testing positive even in places that have never recorded any case in time past. The death toll has increased and in the coming weeks there's likely to be massive testing which will reveal the actual state of so many. So for as many who may be wondering what the situation might be like, one thing you should have at the back of your mind is that more tests will result in more positive cases been discovered as some may even be infected already but be asymptomatic therefore not knowing about it.
I'm baffled about the fact that the same set of people who complained about been fed up with staying indoors are still scared to go out now even when there's a release already. The fear of been infected has made a lot of people reach out to their friends and loved ones advising them to stay indoors if they can, not minding the government's directive. It has become a case of "Safety first" before considering anything else. So it's like we are torn between two decisions.
Several measures have been put in place to stop the spread but there's a question of how workable it will be as people return to their normal lives. The rule of social distancing for instance says everyone should be at least one metre apart from each other and this must be followed strictly in all areas. Have we stopped to think about how this will be enforced in the transport sector for instance as adjustments will have to be made in the conveying of people to their destinations.Social interactions such as hugging, hand shakes are no longer allowed so we wonder how much of sensitization people have as to these practices. Other things such as coughing into the elbow, washing of hands after touching surfaces etc are a part of the new lifestyle people will have to adopt in what I'll call the new society.
Until we stop to critically look into these facts some of which have not even been analyzed in this writing, answering the question about how ready we are to take to the streets might be biased or better still not projective enough as to the outcome of what the decision to go out might borne.
At a time like this when the confines of our homes seem to be the safest place of abode, are we really ready to take to the streets?. From the already existing facts about the Covid 19 pandemic, several inferences can be drawn which will to a great extent answer the question stated earlier. The spread of the virus across different states in the Nation has brought about no other choice but that everyone stays home so as to stay safe and protected from been infected. For several weeks now, the roads have been empty and there has been a halt to virtually all activities especially those involving contact with individuals. As a means to curb the spread of the virus and to profer medical attention to the infected ones, we all have been advised to remain at home while the air is cleared. Therefore, taking a critical look at the turn out of events, how advisable is it that we take to the streets now.
In few hours from now, based on the directives of the Federal Government, many individuals will take to the street and this in a sense marks the beginning of an entirely new experience and an end to that which was previously obtainable. As the clock ticks, many cannot help but wonder how the events of the day will eventually play out. The situation may be likened to a patient who's awaiting a doctor's report not knowing what to expect. Running through the mind of such an individual is a myriad of thoughts as to what the diagnosis might be and how just one minute of knowing could bring about a drastic change in such a life.
Many have come to agree with the fact that the government had to make such a decision because of the level of unrest caused by the stay home order. Several occurrences of theft and violence in different parts of the Nation, citizens clamouring for the need to go out to fend for their needs, students across different levels can't wait to get back to their classrooms amongst other economically related crisis taking it's toll on the Nation as a whole. However valid these points are, certain facts exist which in honest consideration and without an iota of diplomacy will enable us arrive at a probable answer to the question posed.
First of, we will look into the issue of decontamination of our roads, streets, offices etc. As far as I know, no measure was put in place to decontaminate our environment during the periods of the lock down. If indeed we believe that certain surfaces touched by infected individuals could serve as routes for transmission of this virus, it is therefore a necessary task to see to the decontamination of every area people will interact with as they go about their daily routine. Failure to do this shows our level of preparedness to get back to our normal lives which if you will agree with me is nothing to write home about.
Looking at the statistics of infected individuals from the reports released by the NCDC for several days now, it wouldn't be wrong to say that we are at the height of the plague with numerous number of people testing positive even in places that have never recorded any case in time past. The death toll has increased and in the coming weeks there's likely to be massive testing which will reveal the actual state of so many. So for as many who may be wondering what the situation might be like, one thing you should have at the back of your mind is that more tests will result in more positive cases been discovered as some may even be infected already but be asymptomatic therefore not knowing about it.
I'm baffled about the fact that the same set of people who complained about been fed up with staying indoors are still scared to go out now even when there's a release already. The fear of been infected has made a lot of people reach out to their friends and loved ones advising them to stay indoors if they can, not minding the government's directive. It has become a case of "Safety first" before considering anything else. So it's like we are torn between two decisions.
Several measures have been put in place to stop the spread but there's a question of how workable it will be as people return to their normal lives. The rule of social distancing for instance says everyone should be at least one metre apart from each other and this must be followed strictly in all areas. Have we stopped to think about how this will be enforced in the transport sector for instance as adjustments will have to be made in the conveying of people to their destinations.Social interactions such as hugging, hand shakes are no longer allowed so we wonder how much of sensitization people have as to these practices. Other things such as coughing into the elbow, washing of hands after touching surfaces etc are a part of the new lifestyle people will have to adopt in what I'll call the new society.
Until we stop to critically look into these facts some of which have not even been analyzed in this writing, answering the question about how ready we are to take to the streets might be biased or better still not projective enough as to the outcome of what the decision to go out might borne.
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