Covid 19: To limit spread, Suspend Christmas Travels… PTF Advises

Covid 19: To limit spread, Suspend Christmas Travels – PTF Advises

iexclusive News Nigeria reports that the PTF have advised that People should suspend traveling this Christmas to limit spread of Covid 19

The head of PTF, Boss Mustapha, chair by the man of the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID 19, has asked Nigerians not to travel during the festive season to limit the risk of contracting the coronavirus.

This he made known at the PTF media briefing on Monday, Mustapha said such trips should be put on hold because the transmission rate of the virus has become “astronomical”.

According to Boss Mustapha, said new cases can emerge in places that have not been by affected if people travel and gather for festivities.

He said:

“Ahead of the upsurge in travels for the Christmas and New Year festivities, we urge strongly that for this year, such trips should be put on hold firmly because of the risks involved. The transmission rate has simply become astronomical,”

“New clusters of cases can emerge in places that have so far been unaffected as people travel and gather for festivities. But we can lower the risks by adhering to the non-pharmaceutical measures and celebrate safely. There will always be many more festive seasons to celebrate.”

Mustapha, who expressed worry about the spike in the infection rate in the US and Europe, said Nigerians’ compliance with non-pharmaceutical measures is extremely low.

“This is particularly so because our risk perception is low in the -country. Our compliance with non-pharmaceutical measures is extremely low to the extent that Nigerians now think COVID-19 is no more,” he said.

“The response of citizens to testing and detection is very low. The risk of importation will be higher with the opening of our airspace, and the numbers in Nigeria, though appearing low over the last two weeks, has been rising gradually.”

He also expressed concern about international travellers who refuse to present themselves for testing on arriving the country, adding that such persons would be sanctioned.

“Some that have paid for post-arrival testing have failed to show up for the tests,” the PTF chairman said.

“The PTF is concluding steps to work with relevant institutions and legal authorities to impose appropriate sanctions on those that default on the protocols.”

As of November 22, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had confirmed 66,383 infections, out of which 62,076 recoveries and 1167 deaths have been recorded.

Nigeria is still way behind been able to control the pandemic, even though they are Advises and warning the PTF have failed in their own part.

How can people pay for post arrival test and won’t show up.

How did they enter Nigeria without the Airport authorities taking notes of these people which we expect they should have known before now.

Nigeria is still lacking behind in curbing this deadly Virus