COVID-19: Uncertainty over fresh lockdown

.FG may consider economy shutdown to limit casualty-Expert

.Lockdown shouldn’t be an option, says economist

There have been uncertainties surrounding a likely lockdown due to the recent hike in COVID-19 confirmed cases in the country.

In the recent time, an average of over 1000 confirmed cases has been recording daily per day, the reason why an industry expert believed that the federal government might decide to embark on another lockdown to save lives, however, noted that such a decision will not be wise for the economy.

As at the time of writing this report, the Nigeria Centre for Disease and Control (NCDC) confirmed that Nigeria has a total confirmed case of 108,943 patients, total discharged of 85,367 patient and total deaths of 1,420 patients.

Further checks by The Daily Times reveals that 23,576 patients are currently undergoing treatment with an average daily record of more than 1,000 confirmed cases where Lagos State accounts for more than 50per cent of the confirmed case.

As at 16th of January, 2021, NCDC confirmed a total of 1598 confirmed cases with Lagos-461, FCT-206, Plateau-197, Rivers-168, Kaduna-116, Anambra-53, Ogun-49, Ebonyi-47, Edo-42, Sokoto-32, Imo-31, Katsina-31, Oyo-30, Akwa Ibom-27, Delta-16, Kano-16, Abia-15, Niger-15, Ondo-11, Bayelsa-10, Borno-9, Kebbi-8, Ekiti-7 and Jigawa-1.

However, the recent hike in COVID-19 cases were attributed to the non-challan attitude of citizen non-compliance with COVID-19 laydown protocols.

In an exclusive interaction with The Daily Times, the Chief Executives Officer (CEO) of Mascot Consult Limited, Marcel Okeke acknowledged that the federal government could consider another lockdown to safe life, noting that another lockdown will affect the economy negatively.

“There’s nothing more important than life itself. So, if the second wave of Covid-19 gets very bad, and the casualty rate is high, the government can consider another lockdown, to save lives.

“Nigeria is not an isolated case; we must learn from what other countries are doing to deal with Covid-19. Sure, should another lockdown of the economy be affected, it certainly will cause a lot of hardship.

“This is why the government must a lot to educate and enlighten people, but more importantly, enforce all covid-19 safety protocols: the wearing of face mask, social distancing, hand washing, etc.

“Finally, another lockdown will affect the economy badly; but if that is what must be done to stamp out covid-19, so be it. I hope it doesn’t come to that, ” he added.

Also, in an enquiry by The Daily Times, Chief Economist/Head, Investment Research

PanAfrican Capital Holdings Ltd, Moses Ojo, said, “It is a fact that the nation is presently going through the second wave of COVID-19 like other countries in Europe and North America.

“However, economic lockdown might not be an option in dealing with the second wave of the pandemic considering that the initial lockdown pulls the economy into recession besides the social costs of the measure.

“In my view, strict enforcement of non-pharmaceutical measures such as wearing of a facemask in public places, washing of hands, the use of alcoholic based hand sanitiser, restriction of several attendances in the public gathering will be the appropriate measures in the present circumstances,” he added.