Nigeria records 1996 COVID-19 cases between 1st April and 1st May 2020.

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Nigeria records 1996 COVID-19 cases between 1st April and 1st May 2020.

Between the 1st of April 2020 and 1st of May 2020, Nigeria have had 1996 COVID-19 cases, 342 discharges and 66 deaths

On 1st of April 2020, Nigeria recorded 174 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 9 discharges and 2 deaths, while On The 1st of May 2020, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose up to 2170, number of discharges were 351 and 68 deaths.

Sadly regardless the weeks of lockdown in Nigeria, the testing capacity has been slow. In 2 months, we have only done 16,588 tests which is very low compared to our population, where as Ghana did over 65,000 tests in 3 weeks.

With the recent ‘partial’ resumption of work and movement in the country, a lot of concerns are in view.

If in two months, we were only able to test just a few people, even in the face of a community transmission, that means we are not doing enough testing and we are very slow. So with relaxing the lockdown from 4th of May 2020, everyone is at risk.

Nigeria hasn’t gotten to the peak of the infection yet, let alone flattening the curve. Look at the number we recorded within one month (with a lockdown in place) even with inadequate testing, and imagine what would have happened if the testing was adequate..

We really do need to start asking some questions.

1. Is relaxing this lockdown a good idea for us at this time?

2. Is the government just opening us all up to get infected?

3. Are Nigerians really going to adhere to the protocols guiding the resumption?

4. What measures does the government have on ground to ensure safety protocols are observed by everyone?

5. Is the government really playing politics with people’s lives? Why can’t palliative be made available to encourage people to stay at home?

We need to start asking ourselves serious questions when all this is over. During elections, they get into the remote villages to distribute money and food stuff, in order to buy your votes. Now same people you voted in can’t go into towns to distribute money, food stuff and other relief materials that will ensure people are home effectively without much pressure.

I pray we wake up to our reality sooner.

-Dr Kelechi Williams Igbokwe