COVID-19 HEAVY TOLL IN LAGOS: Fresh fears as residents jettison face masks

…Experts cite poor enforcement of guidelines, warn of more difficult days ahead

Non-compliance to the guidelines to contain raging coronavirus has shown a huge increase in infection rates across Nigeria and Lagos in particular. Between Monday and Thursday (four days), Nigeria recorded a total of 2,395 cases. Out of this number, Lagos contributed 33 per cent with a total of 793 cases.

Sadly, despite the heavy toll of the infection, many Lagos residents have continued to flout the guidelines. Experts quoting unconfirmed statistics say 90 per cent of Lagosians do not wear face mask.

Among the guidelines issued from the start of the containment of coronavirus was the wearing of face mask which falls under respiratory hygiene.

But like other guidelines, the use of face mask has continuously been flouted by many Nigerians.

Studies have reportedly shown that COVID-19 is spread from aerosols and tiny viral particles. Unfortunately, people breathe in aerosols in crowded places like markets and buses among others and touch their face, unintentionally, many times with possibly infected hands. Experts say masks protect against all these.

Also, critical health watchers are worried about the development since the fears that there won’t be enough face masks to go round have been surmounted by the creativity of Nigerians.

Today, many tailors are making fabric face masks at an affordable price. With between N100 and N200, an individual could get a fabric face mask. For them, with this development, nobody has an excuse anymore not to wear a face mask in public places.

However, Lagos residents have jettisoned the use of face mask and other guidelines including social distancing. More pathetic is the fact that, out of the few people found with face mask, almost every one of them is wearing it as a ‘chin mask’.

The preponderance of this in Lagos immediately the lockdown was eased raises the question of the penchant of some Nigerians to disobey the law apparently, as a result of ignorance and lack of enforcement by the authorities.

Findings by Sunday Vanguard showed that government has failed to prosecute defaulters which would have served as a deterrent to others.

But doing that merely shows the low state of mind of some people.

According to infectious disease experts, a face mask is one piece of Personal Protective Equipment, PPE, that can prevent COVID-19, stop the spread of the virus, together with social distancing, hand-washing and save lives.

It was also revealed that many Lagosians are still wallowing in ignorance over Covid-19, no thanks to government as findings show that awareness about the disease has remained low. Many residents still do not understand the pandemic. For them, the outbreak of coronavirus was mere politics.

Mr. Sam Ugochukwu, a businessman at Alaba market, says he does not wear a mask because he does not believe in the story.

“I don’t take the wearing of face mask serious because what I think is at play is mere politics’, he said.

“Initially the records were true, but I can boldly say from experience that the records were doctored.

“Recently I left the hospital and the form presented to me had coronavirus patient after I was treated for fever. How do you expect me to believe these people?”.

Another trader at the Amukoko market, Mrs. Stella Idemudia, called for more sensitization on coronavirus in Ajegunle and Amukoko environs as residents flout the use of face mask.

She expressed worry that many residents were already exposed due to the kind of activities that go on in the areas without compliance with the guidelines.

“Many people are already in grave danger, because businesses are operating normally without the use of face mask.”

To Mrs Ifeoluwa Lawal, who owns a shop at the GSM village, Ikeja area of Lagos, the World Health Organisation, said only those infected and sick should wear face mask.

“I am not sick, I am not a doctor. I am not doing surgery. I am not treating somebody, so why should I wear a mask? I see no reason why we are all asked to wear a face mask. Government is causing more fear than the virus.”

Mr Kunle, on his part, said he did not see the reason why the wearing of a face mask should be made compulsory.

“I don’t believe in the measures taken by government. People are not maintaining the social distance and yet nothing has happened to them”, he told Sunday Vanguard

“I believe that the real story behind coronavirus is yet unknown.”

Also, Mrs Chinyere Ike said she was not comfortable with the cloth mask and could not afford to buy a surgical mask.

“I know there is coronavirus but I cannot breathe well while wearing a mask. My friend said I should buy a surgical mask but I cannot afford it.”

Policy

Compulsory wearing of face masks is among the Federal Government’s guidelines and it insisted that anyone without a face mask in public will be prosecuted.

To cascade the law down to his state, the governor of Lagos, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also made the wearing of masks compulsory and threatened penalties and sanctions for anyone who violates the requirement to wear a mask.

Sanwo–Olu indicated that the state had made arrangements for the production of masks in large quantities for the people of Lagos, but, till date, many residents are asking questions about the whereabouts of the promised masks.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, also amplified the same message when it declared that face mask had become essential for Nigerians and that people wear them in addition to other measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Despite this policy and the fact that the state had recorded 7,896 confirmed cases and 108 deaths as of last Thursday, the 18th of June, Lagosians have thrown caution to the wind.