Lagos Flattening the COVID-19 Curve, Says Health Commissioner

Matilda Omonaiye/

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, has announced that the state has gone past the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak and is now at the stage of flattening the curve of the pandemic.

Abayomi, who is in self-isolation after contracting the disease, disclosed this today while featuring virtually on a live phone in programme on Nigeriainfo FM.

The commissioner who discussed how the state is fighting the COVID19 pandemic, observed that it was however still possible to witness an upsurge in the number of new infections if people stop taking necessary precautions.

He said, “So our observation is that Lagos has (gone) past the worst of the pandemic, it has passed the peak of the pandemic and is now on the flattening stage and over time will experience a down slope of the virus then the end of COVID19.

“Lagos might be at its peak in the COVID19 pandemic but it’s not over yet as we may see an escalation of positive cases. However, until we see a decline in number of positives cases we shouldn’t relent.”

Abayomi also disclosed that an assessment of the lockdown introduced by state government to contain the pandemic showed that it was not effective.

“We believe the lockdown was not effective because of the reality of a city where people go out to fend for themselves on a daily basis. If not you replace a health crisis with an economic crisis,” he noted.

Speaking further on the current state of the pandemic in Lagos, Abayomi said, “Concerning the number of positive results seen this period, we have sample collection centers in every local government in Lagos, so the more we test the more cases we find, If there are no more positivity then the outbreak is slowing down.

“There are two categories of testing, ‘the need to know’ for people who have shown symptoms and are a public health concern and ‘the want to know’ – those who as a result of business want to get back to work and want to know if they are safe.”

0