The Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 Mr Boss Mustapha said he foresees a spike in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak in the country in the next two weeks as a result of the teaming Nigerian youths that are protesting the #ENDSARS movement in the country.
Mustapha said the prediction was due to the total disregard for the preventive measures against the virus exhibited by thousands of Nigerians protesting in the ongoing #ENDSARS campaign across various cities in the country. Thousands of Nigerians have in over 11 days, taken to strategic areas across Abuja, Lagos, Edo, Anambra, Enugu, Owerri, Rivers, Delta and other states to protest against police brutality, harassment and extra-judicial killings by men of the Nigeria police especially the by members of the defenct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The PTF Chairman stated, “Truth be told, two weeks from today, if you get all the people that congregated at the Lekki toll plaza and run a test, you would establish for sure several infections. Any mass gathering that does not adhere to the non-pharmaceutical interventions that have been put in place, which include wearing of masks, social distancing, keeping personal hygiene and avoiding mass gatherings, they become super spreader events, whether you like it or not.
“So I can say with a definitive voice that two weeks from today, get everybody that congregated in those places, not only at the Lekki toll plaza, but also the Unity Fountain in Abuja but several other places, we would definitely be contending with an increase in infections, two weeks from now, and that’s why we must be extremely careful when we congregate.”
