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. 2020 May 28;35(Suppl 2):52.
doi: 10.11604/pamj.supp.2020.35.2.23649. eCollection 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing in Nigeria: ignorance or defiance

Ebere Roseann Agusi  1 , Sandra Ifynneke Ijoma  1 , Chizuruoke Stephen Nnochin  2 , Nnaemeka Onyekachi Njoku-Achu  3 , Chika Ignatius Nwosuh  1 , Clement Adebajo Meseko  1
Affiliations

The COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing in Nigeria: ignorance or defiance

Ebere Roseann Agusi et al. Pan Afr Med J. .

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no competing interests.

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