The Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Enugu state chapter, has warmed that the state will likely experience upsurge in infection of Coronavius during the 2021 Valentine day celebration.
NMA Chairman in the state, Dr J.O.T. Onyia in a statement said that the doctors were worried and alarmed over the rising cases of COVID-19 cases and related deaths in Enugu State since the second wave of this dire global pandemic began.
NMA said “Enugu State will most likely experience a massive influx of Valentine celebrants this weekend from other states, with a consequential projected massive spread of COVID-19, if the Presidential orders and NCDC guidelines are not observed.
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“Many hotels are fully booked, and most entertainment spots and other places of outing like shopping malls, night clubs, etc should be expecting large crowds that’ll no doubt breach the COVID-19 infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols.
“We are constrained to make this clarion call which is borne out of our acute awareness that the health facilities and personnels in Enugu state are nearly overwhelmed by the increased incidence in symptomatic COVID-19 related cases and deaths, with a significant number of the health workers and their relatives in Enugu State now down with COVID-19 infection contracted inadvertently while attending to the COVID 19 cases that abound now in the State.
“As a state, we cannot afford to encourage circumstances and events geared towards circumventing COVID-19 IPC protocols as approved by the Federal Government, especially in the face of the fast spreading community acquired COVID-19 infections caused by the emergent, more virulent strain of COVID-19 virus.
“The NMA Enugu State advises the Enugu State Government to immediately cancel all cannivals and mass gatherings during this upcoming VALANTINE’S day celebration in other to reduce the community spread of COVID-19 infections. Beyond this imminent challenge bordering on Valentine’s day celebration, we strongly recommend the enforcement of appropriate restrictions regarding indiscriminate social gatherings at this time.
“The Nigerian Medical Association Enugu state branch remains ready to work with the state government towards instituting a robust COVID-19 committee and a COVID-19 response team in conjunction with the other allied health professionals, that will formulate local policies which will help to combat the truly disconcertingspread of COVID-19 infection and the attendant morbidities and mortalities in our dear state,” Onyia and the Secretary, Dr Alloy Ugwoke said in the statement.
