The COVID-19 strain, which is currently ravaging India, has
been found in Nigeria.
The strain was detected by the African Centre of Excellence
for Genomics of Infectious Diseases in the Redeemers University, Ede, Osun
State nearly three weeks ago and has been communicated to the Nigeria Centre
for Disease Control.
Recall that the Federal Government on Monday restricted gatherings
at worship centres and banned nightclubs following reports that the devastating
COVID-19 strain in South Africa had spread to 23 other countries.
The detection of the Indian strain in Nigeria contributed to the fresh regulations issued by the Federal Government.
The detection had been listed on GISAID, a global science
initiative that provided open access to genomic data of influenza viruses.
A notification dated April 25, 2021, sent by Professor Christian
Hapi of the ACEGID to the NCDC read in part, “We have found five sequences of
the India B.1.617 in the country, specifically in Edo and Osun states.”
However, The PUNCH reports that subsequent observations
showed that so far, the strain had not shown the same kind of viciousness
displayed in India where 400,000 persons were infected daily and 157 died per
hour.
Speaking with one of our correspondents, Hapi said the
information was sent to the NCDC two weeks ago.
Strain detected in Nigeria same with India’s, but different
in characteristics – Professor
Hapi, however, clarified that strain in India has two more
mutations than the one identified in Nigeria which makes the one in India more
aggressive.
“What we have is the B1.617 from India. That is the variant
they had but that variant has now evolved beyond the mutation that we
identified.
“The one India evolved by two mutations. It is the same
strain with India but their own now has a couple of mutations. So, it is the
same as what we detected but also different in characteristics.”
Virologist and Chairman, Expert Review Committee on
COVID-19, Professor Oyewale Tomori, told
one of our correspondents that he was also aware of the detection of the Indian
strain.
Tomori said it was important for the government to announce
the detection of the Indian strain.
He further said there was a need to increase testing, adding
that many states were no longer conducting
test for COVID-19.
“The Indian strain is not as fierce in Nigeria yet but we
are not doing enough testing,” Tomori said.
When asked what the government should do next, Tomori said
he was satisfied with the decision of the Federal Government to step up
enforcement.
“They have already done what needs to be done by issuing
travel guidelines on passengers from India, Brazil and Turkey plus the curfew
and others announced yesterday (Monday). Perhaps, there should be an
announcement that the Indian strain is already in Nigeria,” Tomori added.
FG being proactive with
new guidelines, expert says
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Committee on Infectious Disease for
the Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos State branch, Dr Japheth Olugbogi, on
Tuesday said the new guidelines released by the Presidential Steering Committee
on COVID-19 to further curtail the spread of the virus in the country showed
that the Federal Government was being proactive.
Olugbogi spoke while featuring on programme on Television
Continental, Your View.
The Federal Government, through the PSC, had on Monday
reviewed the country’s COVID -19 guidelines by restricting gatherings at places
of worship centres and banning nightclubs as parts of measures aimed at
preventing the spread of devastating strains of COVID-19 into the country.
In the interview, Olugbogi said the new guidelines were
essential.
He described them as proactive steps by the government to
combat the spread of the virus across the country.
He said, “It is due to what is happening all over the world
actually. I think the government is just trying to be proactive instead of
being reactive. So, that is what is going on.
“We are having variants in some countries. We have increased
social meetings everywhere now, relaxation of the public health and social
preventive measures all over the world now, and a lot of people have not
received the vaccine.
“So, some countries have what we call a third wave or a
fourth wave, and because of that, a lot of people are getting the infection
afresh because they have relaxed public health preventive measures. So, I think
the Federal Government is just trying to prevent that from happening here.
“If you look around,
a lot of people have stopped wearing face masks and using hand sanitisers. We
can’t even say that health workers are left out.
“We have all let our guards down, and I think government is
just trying to prevent what is happening in places like India from happening
here. That is why the new measures are out.”
Olugbogi said until COVID-19 was defeated in every part of
the world, Nigerians had to keep putting up preventive measures to curtail the
pandemic.
“We cannot defeat COVID until COVID has been defeated all
over the world because the way it works in public health is that if we still
have this pandemic even in one country, it can spread to other countries of the
world,” he added.
But the National President of the Centre for Human Rights
and Anti-Corruption Crusade, Cleric Alaowei, on Tuesday, faulted the new
guidelines released by the PSC on COVID-19.
Alaowei described the guidelines as “most insensitive and
unreasonable.”
He made his position known in a statement titled ‘COVID-19:
The new restriction order is unnecessary.’
It read, “The new restriction order given by the
Presidential Steering Committee to partially lock down the economy is uncalled
for.
“The order is most insensitive and unreasonable. We do not
see any reason for the new restriction which will only further heighten the
hardship in the country.
“Even as of today, the daily figure being released by the
Nigerian Centre for Disease Control is barely 49 or thereabouts.”
Alaowei said while his organisation was not opposed to the
measures and safety protocols being undertaken to curtail the spread of the
disease, he said the organisation was concerned about the continued locking
down of the economy.
The statement added, “No doubt that the continued closing
down of bars, recreational centres, nightclubs and restaurants breeds
unemployment which is a dangerous omen to the society.
“Already, millions of Nigerians have been displaced by the
lockdown of the economy last year due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. Many
of those unemployed minds are becoming burden to the society.
“The hike in kidnappings, armed robberies, cultism and other
social vices in the country are direct consequences of unemployment. The
Federal Government should not by act or omission relieve additional work force
into the idle market. Nigeria is presently under siege. No part of the country
as we all aware is secured. The PSC should not create additional set of
unemployed minds to endanger the society.
“There is no spike in the spread of the disease. What
Nigeria needs now is national emergency to tackle our intractable conundrum
which is insecurity. The only lockdown the country needs now is partial state
of emergency. The Federal Government
should declare state of emergency in parts of the North, especially in
the North-East, North-West and parts of the North-Central. The partial
emergency should also be extended to the South-East, South-West and part of the
South-South.”
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