The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) has warned that the partial lifting of lockdown measures could lead to a massive chain of COVID-19 infections.
Dr. Lanre Olosunde, the Chairman of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), sounded the warning today.
He said the partial lifting of lockdown is not the best choice at the moment.
President Muhammadu Buhari had announced the gradual phasing out of the country’s lockdown in the FCT-Abuja, Ogun and Lagos States from May 4.
However, the ARD chairman said: “I think it is not the best choice at this time when we are seeing the evidence of active community spread of COVID-19.
“This is coupled with the fact that our testing capabilities are still far below what is required.
“I sincerely pray we won’t get to the number of the deaths recorded in Italy or that of United States,” he said.
Olosunde, therefore, advised Nigerians to follow the advice of medical experts on the prevention of COVID-19.
He said those who were elderly or those at any age who have underlying chronic medical conditions need to take extra precautions.
If possible, he said, they should stay at home because they are the most vulnerable to this disease.
The underlying diseases he mentioned are diabetes, asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), HIV and cancer.
He said people should be aware that COVID-19 is deadly.
We have seen what it has done to people in other climes, he said.
The ARD chairman, however, pointed out that the fear of COVID-19 should rather drive all of us to behave responsibly, by following laid down rules.
In his opinion, this will stall the spread of the disease.
“Everyone should also be prepared for another round of possible lockdowns if cases continue to increase exponentially,” he advised.
