The recently found SARS-CoV-2 variation of concern of the coronavirus infection- B.1.1.529 lineage, dubbed Omicron, has yet to be detected in the nation, according to the.
The disease centre, on the other hand, cautioned Nigerians not to let their guard down, recommending them to stay away from countries where instances have been documented, such as South Africa, Botswana, Italy, Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.
The disease centre stated in a statement signed by its director-general, Ifedayo Adetifa, that it is monitoring growing evidence on the new variety and its implications "to inform Nigeria's response to the COVID-19 pandemic" with the federal ministry of health.
"Considering the highly likely increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant and its emergence, which is linked to unmitigated community transmission of the virus, the NCDC urges Nigerians to ensure strict adherence to the proven public health and social measures in place, which are enforceable by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC-COVID-19) through the COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations 2021," according to the statement.
Dangerous variant
While no deaths have been connected to the new variation, the disease center verified its high mutations and transmissibilities, saying that a total of 126 genomes of the variant have been found thus far.
"This virus is regarded highly transmissible and may potentially provide an elevated risk of reinfection compared to other versions of concern, given the significant number of mutations found in this Omicron variant and the exponential spike in COVID-19 cases identified in South Africa" (VOCs).
"However, suspicions about it evading protective immune responses and/or becoming vaccine-resistant are just speculative at this point." Existing Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing can still identify this virus.
"The WHO and experts across the world are working feverishly to determine the potential influence of this variation on the severity of existing vaccinations and therapies, as well as their potency."
Vaccination
Apart from following all non-pharmaceutical pandemic measures, the disease center advises Nigerians to be vaccinated as soon as feasible.
"Regardless of the circulating variation, adhere to public health and social measures that have been demonstrated to help prevent SARS-COV-2 infection," the NCDC said. Wearing face masks, especially in crowded settings, washing hands regularly, physical distancing from others where possible during good ventilation, avoiding travel to countries where COVID-19 cases or reported cases of the Omicron variant are on the rise, and avoiding all non-essential travel, both local and international, are among them.
"If you must travel, please follow the PSC-COVID-19 travel regulations, which are in place to prevent the virus or its variations from being imported into Nigeria."
Mr. Adetifa also urged business owners, religious leaders, and others in positions of power to "take responsibility by ensuring that persons in their premises wear masks and maintain physical distance."
The center stated, "We must do everything we can to safeguard ourselves and our country."
