The government says Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the deadliness of the virus.<p class="">The government says Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the deadliness of the virus.</p> <h1>The Federal Government says it is worried that Nigerians are not taking the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) seriously enough.</h1> <p class="">Since its index case was announced on February 27, 2020, Nigeria has recorded <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/coronavirus-timeline-and-profile-of-cases-in-nigeria/k9p6lbk" id="85bf86a2-5f13-4964-b2fb-0d5986562c4d">2,950 coronavirus cases</a> in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.</p> <p class="">Many states have been in partial or total lockdown over the past two months in a bid to combat the spread of the virus.</p> <p class="">However, <strong>President Muhammadu Buhari </strong>eased those restrictions this week, replacing it with an overnight curfew, ban on interstate travels, compulsory wearing of face masks in public places, and stressing adherence to other safety guidelines.</p> <p class="">While speaking during a media briefing on Wednesday, May 6, the chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19,<strong> Boss Mustapha</strong>, lamented that early assessment of the ease indicates that Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the deadliness of the virus.</p> <p class=""><em>"This gives us concerns on the high possibility of increased seeding of the virus to hitherto unaffected persons and populations," </em>he said.</p> <figure class="image" align="center"> <img src="http://ocdn.eu/images/pulscms/MWI7MDA_/491f618077fce3dd24bc2bdc9f88b5d5.jpg" alt="Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha [Twitter/@DigiCommsNG]"> <figcaption>Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha [Twitter/@DigiCommsNG]</figcaption> </figure> <p class="">Mustapha noted that some of the violations observed include the non-compliance with social/physical distancing guidelines, increased level of interstate movements, and the unhygienic and ill-advised use and sharing of face masks.</p> <p class="">He also lamented that state governors currently deporting almajiri students to their states of origin in the northern region are violating the president's ban on interstate travel.</p> <p class="">He also called on the leadership of various transport unions to enlighten their members on the dangers of clustering passengers in their vehicles, and general non-adherence to the government's COVID-19 containment guidelines.</p> <p class="">He appealed to members of the public to be vigilant and support the government in limiting the spread of the coronavirus disease.</p> <p class=""><em>"I want to reiterate the fact that our individual and collective safety is in our hands and I re-echo my call and appeal to Nigerians to demonstrate our duty to ourselves and loved ones by minimizing the risk of getting infected by the virus,"</em> he said.</p> <p class="">481 people in Nigeria have recovered from the coronavirus and been discharged after medical treatment, but 98 people have died, as of May 5.</p>
Featured
FG says Nigerians are not taking coronavirus threat seriously enough
The government says Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the deadliness of the virus.