The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed the possibility of airborne transmission of Coronavirus (COVID-19), urging Nigerians to protect the vulnerable, the elderly and those with underlying sicknesses.
The NCDC said that this has become imperative because COVID-19 is going to be with us for a long time just it announced 575 new cases on Monday. This brings the total infections in the country to 33,153.
The NCDC said via its official Twitter handle that four deaths were recorded across the country.
The health agency stated that out of the 33,153 confirmed cases of the virus, 13,671 have been treated and discharged while 744 deaths was recorded in 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Out of the 594 new cases reported from 20 States, 156 came from Lagos, 141 in Oyo and 99 in FCT.
Others were Edo (47), Kaduna (27), Ondo (22), Rivers (20), Osun (17), Imo (13), Plateau (10), Nasarawa (8), Anambra (8), Kano (5), Benue (5), Borno (5), Ogun (4), Taraba (3), Gombe (3), Kebbi (1), and Cross River (1).
The NCDC, in stating that Nigerians have a role to play in preventing the spread of COVID-19 through adherence to all preventative measures, it added that everyone should specially protect the vulnerable around them including the elderly and those with underlying illnesses.
It said that understanding the modes of transmission of a new virus was critical to defining response strategies.
Stating that there is increasing evidence of the airborne transmission of COVID-19, NCDC noted that “evidence on airborne transmission of COVID-19 reinforces need for strict adherence to preventive measures, such as avoidance of mass gatherings and the use of face masks. We will continue to adapt our guidelines as scientific evidence emerges.”