Commentary: Why Social Distancing Matters In The Fight Against COVID-19

Written By: BARRISTER CHUKS EZEWUZIE

From empirical evidence, the lockdown measures introduced by Governor Willie Obiano in Anambra are in the interest and for the protection of Ndi Anambra.

As of today, COVID-19 pandemic is responsible for thousands of deaths and millions of confirmed cases of infection around the world. Here in Nigeria, there are hundreds of confirmed cases of the infection and tens of deaths. The question is, “if the pandemic can devastate the developed and more technologically advanced countries, what will it do to the less privileged countries like Nigeria?”

Developing countries do not have the health care system they have; they do not have the emergency services the developed ones operate. Developing nations do not have the ventilators, the massive testing kits and highly equipped and sophisticated laboratories. The biggest concern is, if these developed countries were, years ago, where we are today, where shall we be few years from now?

This is why we must, today, listen to and pay uncompromising attention and strict adherence to the measures the governor has put in place to keep Ndi-Anambra safe. In the absence of any known cure or vaccine, the World Health Organization W.H.O recommends that social distancing remains the most effective solution to slow down the pandemic.

The report of the American Center for Disease Control, published by the Washington Post reveals how COVID-19 moves through communities. According to the report, in February, 2020 family members gathered for a funeral in Chicago. A family friend, who had been out of the state, attended and was just a little bit sick with some mild respiratory symptoms; he later tested positive to COVID-19

Before long, 16 people had been infected with corona virus, 3 died. The infection continued spreading to all the contact persons with the index case. And the virus spread like wild fire to everyone that had contact with all the carriers. From there, Coronavirus spread via funeral ceremonies, birthday parties, markets, worship centres, hospitals, schools and other public places.

Most of the infections were discovered to be through hugging, shaking of hands, coughing and sneezing before major social distancing policies were implemented. It is believed that this may have facilitated the transmission of COVID-19 to the broader Chicago community, which later became a hotspot for the pandemic.

The index case passed it on to others. You see why social distancing matters most in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic! This explains why we need to avoid the gathering of multiple people, even if we are healthy. This is what the sit at home and the lockdown measures were designed to achieve. This is why it is necessary to mount grass root sensitization of the communities to comply with these temporary measures to avoid a spike in the corona virus infections.

This is also why we need to pray for and help the most vulnerable groups in our midst; the sick, senior citizens and persons with disabilities. The blind needs somebody to get around. The person on the wheelchair needs somebody to push around. The deaf needs somebody to communicate the safety measures. What can they do when the only solution to COVID-19 is social distancing? May we therefore invoke the biblical clarion desperate call “Come over to Macedonia and help us”. Thank God there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Just like the H1N1 virus pandemic of 1918, which killed over 50 million people with about 500 million infections, some still lived to tell the story. We shall live beyond COVID-19. The lockdown conditions are not the end of the road, but a bend in the road. We shall celebrate again, if we comply.

We shall not die “but live to declare the wonderful works of the Lord.” ‘’When darkness veils his lovely face, we shall rest on His unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, our anchor holds within the veil.’’ He will support us in the whelming flood. Ndi- Anambra, these too shall pass but we must do our part. Sit at home and practice social distancing to stay safe.