#TDWAJ Episode 206: COVID19, Cross River And Ease Of Lockdown; Between Rhetorics, Politicking And Reality

Introduction

As the world keeps readjusting to the mew reality occasioned by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS – CoV-2), concerns have been raised over the rhetoric put forward by governments across the world.

First discovered in Wuhan province in China in December 2019, more than 10 million people have tested positive to the virus with over 500,000 dead within the first six months.

In Nigeria, almost 30,000 confirmed cases have been announced by the Nigerian Center for Disease Control with almost 700 deaths leaving a fatality rate of under five percent.

Cross River state remains the only sub national federating unit that is yet to officially record a case using the Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) method.

And despite, the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital announcing five cases recently, the NCDC is yet to confirm these leaving room for more speculations.

What is the case?

There have been allegations and counter allegations between the medical unions, associations and the Cross River state government.

Recently, the Presidential Task Force on COVID19 announced the easing of lockdown with interstate travel restrictions as well as flight lifted.

What does this mean for the country especially with more cases announced everyday?

Is the country experiencing peak transmissions already?

Is there fear for a ‘W’ curve?

With claims and counter claims about the test rates, how will this impact on preparedness levels to tackle emerging and community transmissions?

With some labour unions on strike, how will this impact on testing, treatment and contact tracing?

These and more are the focus of this week’s ‘The Dialogue With Agba Jalingo’ with the topic: “COVID19, Cross River And Ease Of Lockdown: Between Rhetorics, Politicking And Reality.”

To discuss these and more with us is the Cross River state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Betta Edu; the Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Agam Ayuk and the Coordinator, Coalition of Civil Society Organisations Against COVID-19 in Cross River State, Adim Gabriel.

Join us on Hit 95.9 FM Calabar, Sundays from 6:15PM to 7:00PM for the live program.

Call the following numbers to make your contributions and ask questions; 070095944836, 08092444955.

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Listen to the podcast for this episode below.