Ranmilowo Ojalumo
The current period across the world is what nobody will ever pray for. A period when a pandemic, known as covid-19 is ravaging the entire world simultaneously. A development that has sent every country’s economy under lockdown.
As of today, the fast rate at which the virus spread, the number of people that has been infected and the number of people the virus has killed is alarming, especially in developed countries like America, Italy, United kingdom, France, Brazil to mention but few. As of today, the virus has spread to 215 countries across all continents.
For instance, as of today (June 11, 2020 at 12: 07 PM), statistics obtained from the World Health organization (WHO) website shows that about 7,482,740 cases of the virus has been confirmed all over the world and about 419,494 deaths have also been recorded all over the world.
US currently top the world chart with about 2,066,611 cases and 115,140 deaths. Brazil takes second spot with about 775,184 cases and 39,797 deaths. Russia has 502,436 and 6,532 deaths. UK has about 290,143 cases with 41,128 deaths. Spain has about 289,360 cases with about 27,136 deaths. India 287,679 cases with about 8,115 deaths. Italy has recorded about 235,763 cases with about 34,114 deaths.
Peru is 8th on the world chart with 208,823 cases and about 5,903 deaths. France is 12th on the list with about 155,136 and 29,319 deaths. Mexico is 14th place with about 129,184 cases and 15,357 deaths. China, the originating country of the deadly virus currently has about 83,057 cases with 4,634 deaths.
In Africa continent, South Africa is on top of the chart and 22 spot in the world with about 55,421 cases and 1,210 deaths. Egypt is second in Africa and 30th position in the world with 38,284 cases and 1,342 deaths.
Nigeria is currently the third highest in Africa and 52nd in the world chart with 13,873 cases and 382 deaths. But despite the figure and the position Nigeria is currently occupying, many people in Nigeria are still saying that there is no covid-19 in Nigeria. The question is why do some people still believe that the virus is not in Nigeria?
The reason is not far-fetched; it is ignorant. Some people are ignorantly using America, Italy, Germany, France and other countries with very high fatality as their reference, saying the virus is actually existing in those country because many people have died.
Some people said because the number of deaths that has been recorded in Nigeria is relatively small, unlike many other countries in Europe and America, the virus is not in Nigeria. They are ignorantly saying those country with high fatality are showing the victims’ body on television but such is not happening in Nigeria. Some people even said some elements notably in the government only want to make money from the pandemic and that is why they are saying there is covid-19 in Nigeria.
It is important to clearly state here that covid-19 is in Nigeria. The fact that Nigeria has not recorded thousands of fatality, like America and many other European countries doesn’t mean the virus is not in Nigeria.
According to data obtained from the website of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), as of June 10, 2020, Lagos has recorded 6,266 and 81 deaths, FCT 1,097 cases and 25 deaths, Kano 1,025 and 50 deaths. Edo 478 cases and 25 deaths, Ogun 475 cases with 13 deaths, Rivers 403 and 22 deaths, Katsina 399 cases and 21 deaths, Oyo 398 cases with 7 deaths, Kaduna 383 cases and 10 deaths, Borno 381 cases with 26 deaths, Bauchi 374 cases with 10 deaths, Jigawa 309 cases and 5 deaths.
Gombe has 246 cases with 11 deaths, Delta 197 cases with 11 deaths, Ebonyi 152 cases no victim, Kwara 143 cases and 1 death, Plateau 130 cases and 3 deaths, Sokoto 129 cases and 14 deaths, Nasarawa 127 cases and 5 deaths, Abia 97 cases nill death, Imo 83 cases but nill death, Zamfara 76 cases and 5 deaths, Yobe 52 cases and 7 deaths, Ondo 50 cases and 8 deaths, Osun 50 cases and 4 deaths, Anambra 46 cases with 1 death.
Niger has 46 cases with 1 death, Akwa Ibom has 45 cases with 2 deaths, Kebbi 43 cases with 4 deaths, Adamawa has 42 cases with 4 deaths, Enugu 35 cases with 1 death, Bayelsa 32 cases with 3 deaths, Ekiti 30 cases and 2 deaths, Taraba has 18 cases and nill death, Benue 13 has cases nill death and Kogi has 3 cases and nill death.
In view of this, every Nigeria should have in mind that covid-19 is in the country. So, protect yourself by washing your hands regularly with soap in running, or using an alcohol based sanitizer, avoid touching your face and keep social distance.
