COVID-19: Federal Govt Gives ‘Real Reason’ Schools Remain Closed

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has revealed the real reason why the federal government is finding it difficult to reopening schools in Nigeria.

Brandnewsday learned that the NCDC’s Head of Risk Communication, Yahya Disu disclosed that the nonchalant attitude by the public and noncompliance to all health protocol on COVID-19 stands as the main reason for the government’s unwillingness to reopen schools.

Disu made this known during a webinar hosted by Plan International Nigeria’s Country Director, Hussaini Abdu, with support from the European Union, UN, over the weekend.

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He reiterated that reopening of schools will further increase the index cases of the virus, therefore, schools should remain locked.

Nigerian Schools Reopening date

The NCDC’s Head of Risk Communication noted that children were at risk of contracting the virus due to their inability to follow the health protocols.

According to Disu, “The risk perception by the public is still very low and it’s because our population structure consists mostly of youth who may have the disease and not have symptoms.

He said: “Reopening schools will further spread the disease. If there is a good level of compliance, then we could consider school reopening.

“School children are likely not going to comply and it could spread the disease among them as the majority of our pupils go to school in vehicles and the transport sector is known to have a poor record of compliance.”

The federal government had shut down schools as measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

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