The Oyo state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has urged the Governor Seyi Makinde led government to consider a lockdown of activities in the state.
Its Chairman, Dr Akin Sodipo, made this call in a statement issued on Thursday on the spread of coronavirus in Nigeria.
Sodipo said the lockdown will curtail the movement of people thereby containing the spread of coronavirus in the state.
Though there is only one confirmed case in the state, Sodipo said it was important for residents to stay at home and reduce contact with people because everyone is a potential carrier of the virus.
Importantly, Sodopo urged the state government to expedite action on the refurbishment of facilities converted to isolation centres and provide necessary protective equipment for all involved in preventing an outbreak of the virus in the state.
“So far, Oyo State has only one confirmed reported case and all of us must do everything within our capacities to prevent escalation of the infection, hence this clarion call. We still have a chance to do something now although time is not our friend in this matter. For now, what is required of us to stem the tide is simple; stay at home and reduce contact with people knowing that everyone is a potential carrier of the virus.
“We appeal to the state government to expedite action on the refurbishment of facilities converted to isolation centres, assemble experts from different disciplines involved in the management of disease outbreak and crisis management to keep guiding the efforts of the government, provide all necessary protective equipment and security personnel for those involved in taming the spread of this virus.
“We also urge the state government to place a directive to stop all gatherings as it is the only way to stop this spread, if possible, a total lockdown of activities in the state including the movement of people not on essential duty for a period,” Sodipo said.
