Why coronavirus poses great danger, by Oyo containment chairperson

Chairperson, Oyo State COVID-19 Decontamination and Containment Team, Prof. Olanike Adeyemo, has said the unpredictability nature of the coronavirus is the most dangerous thing about it.

Adeyemo, who is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnership), University of Ibadan (UI), stated this while speaking with The Guardian in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on the possibility of the coronavirus being airborne.

She said: “That coronavirus is airborne has been long established, hence the required measures of physical distancing, wearing of face-mask and hand hygiene to prevent the spread of the virus.

“The most dangerous thing about COVID-19 is the unpredictability in each person’s body. Whereas an older and/or “vulnerable” person will be infected, come down with COVID-19 and be asymptomatic or be sick and recover, a young person will die. It is, therefore, important for everyone to take COVID-19 seriously and take personal responsibility for their safety. Be responsible enough to wear a face mask and take other precautions as highlighted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). If you do not have a major business to transact, stay at home.”

On his part, the Oyo State Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Akin Sodipo, said there would be trouble if the virus becomes airborne.

Sodipo said: “The issue is so simple. The chairman said it might be transmitted. That means there is a possibility of it being transmitted. It’s not being confirmed yet. This virus is novel. Everybody is still looking at things about it. But there is that high possibility that it could be airborne. If it is, that makes it mandatory if only we can listen to what government has been saying. Avoid gathering of many people where there are air-conditioners because people are circulating the same air and everybody is breathing the same air.”