Nigerians Not Cooperating With Officials For Contact Tracing – PTF

The Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, says it has recieved reports that citizens were refusing facilitate contact tracing as well as going into isolation after testing positive.

Chairman of the taskforce, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this on Thursday at the ongoing briefing of the taskforce in Abuja.

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Mustapha said it was in the interest of everyone that contacts of infected persons were traced so as to slow down the spread.

According to him, it is also important to go into isolation for close monitoring after testing positive.

He said the PTF would continue to observe and monitor the overall compliance with the easing of restrictions, adding that it would not hesitate to review the guidelines, should the situation warrants, to avoid preventable risks of transmission.

He said compliance with the PTF guidelines was important at this point, in order not to put lines into danger.

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The Secretary to the Government also said the PTF had continued to recieved support from development partners.

Mustapha also said there will be a high cost of transportation in the Nigerian economy, as the coronavirus lockdown is eased across the country.

He explained that air travel will particularly be expensive due to the need to maintain social distancing onboard.

He said, “For the transport sector, because the passenger load has been reduced now, as a result, there is a hike in the prices. That is part of the problem that the entire world will be confronted with.

“Because of COVID-19, everything is in turmoil. Flying after COVID-19 will be one of the most expensive ventures because if you are going to maintain social distancing, what happens to the capacity of the aircraft as built in such a way to accommodate about 100 passengers?

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“If you maintain social distancing, the capacity might reduce to about 50%. It (the aircraft) will burn the same fuel. It will operate with the same crew. It will consume the same consumables. Who pays for the extra? So, there is going to be turmoil in the economy of the whole world, Nigeria not an exception.

“I am not urging transporters to hike their prices but it is going to be the reality of the time. And what government will have to do is what it is doing now: creating stimulus for the commerce, manufacturing, agriculture (industries) to soften the effect of this turmoil that is being brought in the management of the economy of our nation.”

On his part, the National Coordinator of the PTF, Sani Aliyu, debunked the reports that the taskforce was giving out contracts.

Sani said there were reports going around in public space that the taskforce was giving out contact.

He did not, however, say what sort of contract it was.

He maintained that the taskforce was not a procurement body.

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“PTF is not giving contract. It is a procurement body.”

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