Covid-19: Fear Grips Kano Residents Over Continuing Deaths, Flee In Droves
LAGOS MAY 3RD (NEWSRANGERS)-People of the state are now living in fear of the unknown, many have started to leave the ancient city in droves and may be inadvertently spreading the virus to neighbouring states.
Relatedyl, yesterday the federal government escalated its containment efforts by opening additional three mobile testing centres to strengthen the war against the virus in the state.
Curiously however, Governor Abdulahi Ganduje, has despite the disturbing situation in the state, relaxed the lockdown order for Ramadan purposes, with increased deaths in the last 24 hours, including the passing of the Emir of Rano, Alhaji Tafida Abubakar Ila and the state’s Head of Communications, UNICEF, Malam Rabiu Musa. These have further heightened fear of residents. Particularly worrisome many of the almajiris who have left the city have tested positive to the coronavirus.
Also, in obedience to Islamic injunctions, which prescribe immediate burial for Muslims, the cause of a majority of the deaths have been largely unknown, fuelling speculations between some unknown and unverified illness and the ravaging COVID-19 because testing is not being done.
But the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum
(NGF) and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday, said the current
spate of community spread of COVID-19 could have been averted had the country
shut down its borders earlier than it did in late March.
Fayemi, who said the situation has though not affected the commendable response
of the Nigerian governments at all levels to the challenge posed by the
pandemic, however hinted that the numbers would not stop climbing until
sometime in June or July, when the curve would begin to flatten.
Yesterday night at 11. 55pm NCDC disclosed that
220 new cases had been confirmed bringing the total cases so far to 2388, while
those discharged stood at 385 and deaths so far stood at 85. Lagos top
yesterday confirmed cases with 62 new cases, followed be FCT with 52 cases,
Kaduna 31, Sokoto 13, Kebbi 10, Yobe 9, Borno 6, Edo 5, Bauchi 5, Gombe 4,
Enugu 4, Oyo 4, Zamfara 3, Nasarawa 2, Osun 2, Ebonyi 2, Kwara 2, Kano 2,
Plateau 2.
This notwithstanding, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss
Mustapha has said the battle against COVID-19 was winnable but with the full
cooperation and support of the Nigerian people by adhering to all the safety
rules and protocols.
In the same spirit, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo,
yesterday, while participating in an annual event, The Platform, hosted by
Pastor Poju Oyemade and which held its first online edition in lieu of the
COVID-19 challenge, said Nigeria and Nigerians would get through this phase
together, much stronger economically and as a people because of their
resilience.
Not unexpectedly, however, President Muhammadu Buhari, while celebrating the
World Press Freedom Day today, recognised and commended the Nigerian media “for
the good work they have done, and are still doing,” as the country intensifies
the fight against COVID-19.
thisdaylive.com
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