You are here: HomeNews2021 07 14Article 457006

General News of Wednesday, 14 July 2021

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Coronavirus Delta Variant: NCDC cautions against travelling for Sallah

Muslims gathered for prayers Muslims gathered for prayers

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has cautioned Nigerians against travelling home to celebrate the 2021 Eid-el-Kabir celebrations next week because of the Delta variant of the deadly coronavirus discovered in the country not long ago.

Head of the Risk Communications Division of the NCDC, Dr Yahya Disu made the statement in an interview with Channels TV on July 14, 2021.

According to Disu, Nigerians should avoid unnecessary trips in general, as the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic started in Nigeria because people travelled to the country last December.

“Third-wave is about having an increase in the number of cases. We have had an increase and decrease in the number of cases before now. So, the third one is starting but what is important is what we are able to do to ensure that we are able to reduce it,” he said.

He further advised religious leaders to educate their followers on the importance of strictly observing the Coronavirus protocols in order to control the further spread of the virus.

“More importantly, Sallah is coming when people just travel and that makes the risk higher in villages, in different parts of the country. So, we need to warn people: they don’t need to travel if it is not necessary, you can celebrate where you are. During Sallah, we go to the mosque in large numbers but this is the time we need to be very cautious.

"We are working with religious organisations. The second wave in Nigeria started because of Christmas because people travelled for Christmas. So, we can avoid it, we can learn from it. A life that we lost is very important for every one of us, it could be anybody. So, it is not worth it to lose a life because we want to celebrate Sallah or Christmas,” he said.