Dr Taofeekat Ali, a public health expert, has urged Nigerians to take responsibility for their health and safety of those around them by complying with government guidelines.
Ali gave the advice in Abuja on Saturday, following the ease on lockdown directives.
Some of the guidelines released by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 were compulsory use of face masks, provision of hand sanitisers and hand-washing facilities in offices.
The guidelines also include control of number of people entering the offices to ensure social distancing as well as temperature checks.
Local authorities to determine date and time for opening of the neighborhood markets not more than three times a week.
Warehouses to open on neighbourhood market days, to serve shops, the abattoirs to open three days a week and compliance to strict sanitation should be adhered to.
Speaking on these protocols, the expert, who works with Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), said adhering to these guidelines was necessary to reduce the spread of the virus and tackle community transmission being experienced in the country.
“In the last few weeks, the daily case notifications of new COVID-19 infections in the country has shown an upward trend and while this may be attributed to increased rate of testing, it also lends credence to the fact that there is ongoing transmission of the novel Coronavirus infection among individuals in the community.
“As such, we can’t be too careful and it is important we adhere to these guidelines to limit the spread of infection and stay safe.
“I implore the citizenry to continue to listen to the voice of reason informed by scientific evidence, avoid fake or unconfirmed reports and generally maintain an optimal state of physical and mental wellbeing as we pull through these difficult times,” she advised.
She also encouraged Nigerians to reach out to friends, neighbours and loved ones through phone calls, to check on their wellbeing, adding that well-balanced emotional and psychological state of mind was necessary to strengthen physical response to external threats from diseases.
