THE EFFICACY OF SOCIAL DISTANCING IN THE FIGTHT AGAINST CORONA VIRUS (COVID-19) IN NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
The severity of the novel 2019 Coronavirus causes great concern and anxiety, and desperate measures are being taken to contain the pandemic. According to WHO, such measures include hygiene, isolation, and social distancing.
Because crowding is thought to be a major factor in the spread of the corona virus, social distancing is essential for its control. However, compliance has remained a source of concern, particularly in Nigeria.
We investigate the concept of social distancing in infectious disease control and the negative feedback on public health as revealed in the current body of knowledge from news media and other literatures. The risks of failing to comply with social distancing due to ignorance or defiance are highlighted.
INTRODUCTION
Since the dawn of time, various plagues have frequently threatened human survival. One recent threat is an infectious disease, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, also known as the Coronavirus disease 2019. (COVID-19).
According to the South Morning China Post [1], the first case of the novel strain of the Coronavirus was reported in Wuhan, Hubei province in China on November 17, 2019, and there has been a worldwide exponential increase in the number of infections and casualties since then. COVID-19 is an infectious disease that causes respiratory illness, including coughing, fever, and, in severe cases, difficulty breathing.
When an infected person coughs or sneezes openly, or when a person touches a surface or object and then touches the eyes, nose, or mouth, the disease spreads primarily through contact. Because there is currently no standard vaccine or cure for COVID-19, prevention is strongly advised.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends frequent hand-washing for at least 20 seconds with soap and running water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer; covering the nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or flexed elbow when coughing or sneezing; avoiding touching the eyes, nose, and mouth if hands are not clean; and avoiding close physical contact (1 meter or 3 feet) also known as social distancing [2].
People who are sick are encouraged to self-isolate in order to avoid infecting others (if shedding coronavirus) or becoming infected, as a sick person’s immunity is usually compromised. This paper investigates current literature and community perception regarding the impact of socio-distancing on the spread of COVID-19.
The concept of socio-distancing in infectious disease control: social distancing, combined with good respiratory hygiene and hand washing, is thought to be the most feasible way to reduce or postpone an on-going pandemic.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), social distancing is a set of “methods for reducing the frequency and closeness of contact between people in order to reduce the risk of disease transmission.”
During the 2019-2020 coronavirus pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revised the definition of social distancing to include “remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately six feet or two meters) from others when possible.”
As a result, social distancing entails physical distancing. The primary reason for physical separation is to reduce the spread of the virus through contact. According to WHO, when an infected person coughs or sneezes, droplets containing the virus are deposited on objects and surfaces that people are likely to touch, and as a result, anyone within 1-2 meters of the infected person may be at risk.
The possibility of contracting and spreading the virus is reduced when appropriate physical distance is maintained [3]. Each pandemic-affected country has reported similar narratives of social, cultural, or religious gatherings where large numbers of people spent extended hours in close proximity aided in the spread of the pandemic.
Physical distancing has not been taken seriously by people all over the world, and this appears to be the case in Nigeria as well. When Italy first saw cases of coronavirus, ‘physical-distancing’ was not one of the measures required by their government; as a result, the population continued to have close physical interactions, leading to widespread community transmission of the virus.
Global socio-distancing and its impact on COVID-19 spread: In order to determine the cause of the coronavirus’s unprecedented global spread, Hendrick Streeck and colleagues studied the first COVID-19 cluster in Heinsberg, Germany, following the infection of hundreds of people [4].
They noticed a pattern of singing and dancing that invariably results in the virus spreading quickly. Other studies found that large crowds aided the pandemic’s rapid spread not only in central Europe, but also in the United States and Australia [5].
Although New York is now the epicenter of the US outbreak, the traditional Mardi Gras celebrations are thought to have been a catalyst for a large outbreak in New Orleans. During carnival, there were no social or physical restrictions.
Only a few weeks later, on March 20, the mayor of New Orleans issued a stay-at-home order for the city, with Louisiana following suit two days later. Nonetheless, the city recorded its first death on March 13, and by March 22nd, Louisiana had 837 cases, with New Orleans accounting for roughly 70% of them. COVID-19 thrives in religious settings as well.
From the 17th to the 21st of February, approximately 2,500 worshippers gathered at the Porte Ouverte Christian church in Mulhouse, Alsace, France, for one of the most anticipated annual events on the evangelical calendar [6].
The church’s spokesperson, Nathalie Schnoebelen, stated that “during the five days, worshippers greeted each other, pecked each other on the cheeks, and held hands, sometimes while praying during the services.” It would be nearly a month before France declared a state of emergency due to the global trend.
However, major concerns were raised only after the Porte Ouverte congregation had dispersed and several worshippers tested positive for the coronavirus. By the time it was identified as a virus spawning ground, churchgoers had unwittingly passed it on to others. A nurse who worked at the Porte Ouverte is accused of starting a cluster that infected 250 colleagues at Strasbourg University Hospital, where she worked.
In Daegu, South Korea, a 61-year-old woman infected 37 people at her church [7]. The Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified this woman as “Patient 31” after she developed a fever on February 10 and attended four church services before being diagnosed with COVID-19.
According to Reuters, authorities described the outbreak as a “super-spreading event” because the woman single-handedly transmitted the infection to an unusually large number of people, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in South Korea to 104, with one associated death as of 28 February.
The South Korean government reacted quickly by declaring a state of emergency. Schools and public places were closed, sporting events were cancelled, and large gatherings were prohibited.
That appeared to work, as the rate of new known infections in South Korea has slowed significantly, from a peak of 909 new cases on February 29 to 100 or fewer new cases on most days since mid-March. Convincingly, it is safe to say that the root cause of all of these global outbreaks is physical distance, ignorance, or defiance.
The first confirmed incident of COVID-19 in Nigeria was announced on February 27, 2020, when an Italian citizen arriving in Nigeria via the Lagos Airport tested positive for the virus [8]. A second case of the virus was reported in Ogun State on March 9, 2020, involving a Nigerian citizen in transit from Milan to Lagos who had contact with the Italian citizen.
Following that, the Nigerian Health Minister announced that 60 people who had contact with the index Italian patient had been isolated, 40 in Ogun State and 20 in Lagos State. There has, however, been an increase in confirmed cases and, as a result, mortality.
According to a report from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), as of May 16, 2020, there were 5621 confirmed cases, 3973 active cases in 34 states, including the FCT, with 176 deaths and 1472 recoveries [9]. On March 9, 2020, the Nigerian President declared national border closures, a state of emergency in the health sector, and a 14-day suspension of all movements in the FCT, Lagos State, and Ogun State in an effort to halt the spread of this virus.
In a similar vein, other federation states followed suit, enacting partial lockdowns and closing their respective borders. Businesses, markets, religious centers, schools, and other public institutions and spaces will be temporarily closed during this time.
Nonetheless, all forms of corporate, social, and religious gatherings were prohibited; however, in exclusive cases, strict adherence to social distancing is expected. Unfortunately, compliance with the directives has become a challenge, as many people fail to follow them due to ignorance or outright defiance.
There are numerous examples of partial or zero adherence. A typical scenario, for example, occurs in most public places, such as banks, where customers attempting to gain access to banking halls congregate outside.
In more organized societies, standing boxes measuring 2-3 meters are drawn for queues in most public places to help people maintain the required distance apart during this pandemic. [10] People in states with partial lockdown are unaware of the importance of maintaining the necessary interpersonal distance.
As is customary, public buses and taxis are jam-packed with passengers. Despite the fact that defaulting states face harsh penalties, the level of compliance is higher. Failure to comply with this creates danger, particularly in Nigeria, where the quality of our health-care systems and our ever-increasing population are a bad mix.
Could some of these defaulters be attributed to the indifference and laziness of most Nigerians, or is it a clear case of insubordination and a proclivity for civil disobedience in a developing country where citizens’ patriotism and respect for government is low? This attitude may also be attributed to the government’s lack of responsibility to its citizens.
Celebrities and politicians hosted a house party in the city while the city was under lock down, according to recent local news. After being duly arraigned, it was also observed that the precaution of physical distancing was not followed at the court hearing, as journalists and onlookers milled around.
Another audacious defiance of the call for social distancing was on display on national television, TVC, during the funeral of the President’s Chief of Staff. Prior to his death, he tested positive for the COVID-19 virus on March 24, 2020, after returning from Germany.
Despite the government’s initial announcement that the burial would be held in private to demonstrate compliance with COVID-19 prevention guidelines, it was observed that a cross section of sympathizers in attendance were crowded, with only a few observing physical distancing.
The carelessness did not go unnoticed by the public, and the federal government has since apologized. It is more important to follow the rules and precepts in order to save lives.
Negative feedback in the enforcement of socio-distancing: While the lock-down has its benefits in restricting movement and encouraging social-cum-physical distancing, it also has its drawbacks. There have been cases of civil attacks resulting in the deaths of people at the hands of law enforcement.
On April 9, 2020, a Nigerian television station reported the assassination of approximately six people in Kaduna State by suspected law enforcement agents. A similar incident was reported in Delta State, where natives and soldiers clashed, resulting in the death of a native.
Instances of default, defiance, and violence call into question whether the lockdown is actually accomplishing its goal. The apparent psychological state of the people, combined with the country’s harsh socioeconomic situation, may have contributed to unrest and resistance. As a result, in the face of provocation and rebellion, law enforcement officers must be humane and have a civilized sense of duty.
Another critical point of discussion during a lockdown is the lack of a sufficient socioeconomic cushion for the people, particularly the indigents and vulnerable members of society. In a country where more than 85 percent of the population survives economically on a daily basis, lockdown will undoubtedly impede their means of subsistence.
Given this reality, the challenges of insufficient supplies and meager palliative measures, if any at all, from the government raise serious concerns. Despite the government’s commendable initiatives, there has been little impact.
While some complain about marginalization as a result of the lopsided distribution of these palliatives, others believe its administration and distribution are grossly politicized and opaque.
Furthermore, it has been observed that in some centers where these distributions are carried out, social distancing is usually the last thing on the minds of the beneficiaries, a succinct description of the struggle between life and livelihood.
In combating the COVID-19 pandemic, the government, civil society organizations, and humanitarian organizations can improve the living conditions of the less fortunate by being proactive and deliberate in meeting their basic needs, thereby preventing unnecessary death caused by poverty and hunger.
Though there is still a genuine and pressing need for’ social distancing,’ what is really required is ‘physical distancing,’ as people can remain socially active while maintaining physical distance. Instead of the traditional visit to/by family and friends, social media allows people to connect, stay in touch, and be entertained.
As important as it is, asking people to change their social norms and instinctive habits is difficult. However, in a desperate situation, desperate measures must be taken. Maintaining physical distance is one of the proven measures to limit coronavirus spread, so people must learn to change their lifestyle in order to survive.
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THE EFFICACY OF SOCIAL DISTANCING IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORONA VIRUS (COVID-19) IN NIGERIA
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