Group urges govt to extend surveillance to land borders to check spread of COVID-19

The Nigerian Infectious Diseases Society (NIDS) has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to extend surveillance to land borders in a bid to check the spread of coronavirus.

Prof. Dimie Ogoina, the president of the body also urged concerned bodies to follow reasonable and evidence-based guidance of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the face of COVID-19 outbreak.

Speaking further, Prof. Ogoina in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, expressed fears that most states of the Federation may not be adequately prepared to respond to the outbreak if more cases are reported.

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‘‘We advise the general public and healthcare workers to adopt established prevention measures from verifiable and reliable sources’’.

‘‘We implore all stakeholders to follow evidence-based scientific guidelines and eschew fear and panic’’ Prof. Ogoina said

This comes after the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said on Saturday all train services would continue contrary to earlier announcement that it had suspended services because of coronavirus pandemic in the country.

The NRC Deputy Director of Public Relations, Mr. Yakub Mahmood, had said in an earlier statement that all train services would be suspended from Monday to check the possible spread of coronavirus.

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