FCTA insists on use of non-pharmaceutical strategies for COVID-19 fourth wave

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reiterated that the best solution to tame COVID-19 is the use of non-pharmaceutical strategies, which include minimising physical contact, keeping social distances, wearing facemasks and hand-washing.

It advised residents and other stakeholders in the nation’s capital city to take precautions on simple preventive measures.
Secretary of FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS), Dr. Abubakar Tafida, gave the advice yesterday, while updating journalists on the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the FCT.

Tafida disclosed that as of Sunday, December 19, 2021, FCT had 84 cases, which brought cumulative cases so far confirmed in the FCT since the first wave to about 24,861.

He said: “Now, we have 1,246 active cases. We noted an additional 13 cases in the past 24 hours. In terms of people or cases on admission, we have a total of 105 and 92 of this number are in the Dome and 13 at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada. This signifies the severity of the conditions. So, preparedness is key to effectively handling the pandemic.

“So, you can see that within the span of three weeks, we are having almost a thousand plus. If we continue to neglect these preventive measures, the situation might become very alarming and difficult to handle.”

“In our last meeting, we looked at the current situation, the increasing number of cases, what we have been doing, and we have developed strategies, which are in consonance with scientific and other data available to us.

“As we are going through this wave, the emphasis still is that we need to take precautions ourselves. This is very important. The public must continue to be aware of these specific and simple preventive measures.”