NCDC advises Nigerians as fear of OMICRON variant grips the world

LAGOS – The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC has  advised Nigerians  following the discovery of the OMICRON variant of the Coronavirus pandemic, which has continued to ravage South Africa and some other countries in Africa and Europe.

In a Statement, the NCDC said it is  aware of reports of a new COVID-19 variant – the B.1.1.529 lineage, adding that given the high number of mutations present in this Omicron variant and the exponential rise in COVID-19 cases observed in South Africa, this virus is considered highly transmissible and may also present an increased risk of reinfection compared to other VOCs.

“However, the fears about its ability to evade protective immune responses and/or its being vaccine resistant are only theoretical so far”, it said, and  that the virus can still be detected with existing Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests.

The NCDC noted that Considering the highly likely increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant and its emergence that is linked to unmitigated community transmission of the virus, it urges Nigerians to ensure strict adherence to the proven public health and social measures in place, which are enforceable by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC-COVID-19), through the COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations 2021.

The NCDC implores Nigerians to do the following: Make every use of the currently available opportunities to get vaccinated against COVID-19; Adhere to public health and social measures that have been proven to help prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection regardless of the circulating variant.

The  measures  include: Wearing face masks especially in crowded settings; Washing hands regularly; Physical distancing i.e., keeping a distance of two metres from others where possible; Ensuring good ventilation;  Avoid travel to countries where there is a surge in COVID-19 cases or reported cases of the Omicron variant;  Avoid all non-essential travel both local and international.

“ If you must travel, please adhere to travel protocols instituted by the PSC-COVID-19 which are in place to prevent the risk of importation of the virus or its variants to Nigeria.

“The virus is more likely to spread where people gather and do not adhere to these measures. Therefore we appeal to business owners, religious leaders, and people in authority to take responsibility by ensuring people in their premises wear masks and adhere to physical distancing. We must do all we can to protect ourselves and our country”, the NCDC warned.