The COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing in Nigeria: ignorance or defiance
- PMID: 33623577
- PMCID: PMC7875744
- DOI: 10.11604/pamj.supp.2020.35.2.23649
The COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing in Nigeria: ignorance or defiance
Abstract
The severity of the novel 2019 Coronavirus leaves much trepidation, anxiety and desperate measures are taken to curb the pandemic. Such measures according to WHO include hygiene, isolation and social distancing. If clustering of people is considered a major catalyst in the spread of corona virus, social distancing is therefore important for its control. But compliance has remained a concern, especially in Nigeria. We examine the concept and global trends in social distancing in infectious disease control and the negative feedback on public health as revealed in current body of knowledge from news media and other literatures. The risks associated with failure to comply with social distancing as a result of ignorance or defiance are highlighted.
Keywords: Coronavirus; Nigeria; compliance; pandemic; social distancing.
© Ebere Roseann Agusi et al.
Conflict of interest statement
The author declares no competing interests.
References
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- Live Science 1st known case of Coronavirus traced back to November 2019 in China. Accessed April 15, 2020.
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- Nigerian Health Watch Coronavirus: time to take social distancing seriously in Nigeria. Accessed March 26, 2020.
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- The US Sun Newspaper Mardi Gras blamed for coronavirus outbreak in Louisiana as New Orleans looks set to be next ‘epicenter’. Accessed March 26, 2020.
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