COVID-19: It’s not time to ease lockdown, NMA warns governors

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has warned governors against easing the lockdown declared in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

Some governors had relaxed the ban for Jumat and forthcoming Easter.

But in a statement on Friday, Francis Faduyile and Olumuyiwa Odusote, NMA president and secretary-general respectively, said this could be a setback to measures to check the spread of the virus.

“Of particular concern is the declaration by the Cross River State Governor that social distancing is not needed while wearing a face mask,” the association said.

“A moratorium on the lockdown to allow mass gathering in mosques and churches from Friday to Sunday in Rivers; the lifting of the ban on Friday prayers by the Katsina and Kogi governments.

“We are aware that similar orders have also been given in Ondo, Ebonyi and Imo states which have approved mass attendance of Easter services.

“While appreciating the prime place of religion in our national lives and especially the value Christians place on Easter, we place on record that there is now the evidence of community transmission of COVID-19.”

The NMA appealed to authorities to rescind their decision in the interest of the safety of lives and implored the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to ensure that such gatherings do not take place.

As of April 9, 2020, Nigeria had recorded 288 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Lagos currently has the highest number of confirmed cases with 158 patients.

However, of that figure, 46 persons have been discharged from the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Yaba.