The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has urged Nigerians not to conduct usual Christmas festivities such as traditional Christmas carols this year, 2020. Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), stated this during the weekly briefing of the task force in Abuja on Monday.

According to Ihekweazu, Christmas carols, travels, and other gatherings during the festive season could turn out to be “super spreaders” of the coronavirus.

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He said,

“This is really to re-emphasise the call by the PTF that many of the traditional meetings that we engage in at this time of the year, whether they are Christmas carols or festivals, trips, family gatherings, each of those could end up being a super spreader event.

“So, we must take this into consideration as we make our choices.”

NCDC on Monday night announced 145 new cases of COVID-19 in the country. The new infections take the number of cases in the country to 67,557.

Meanwhile, The Christian Association of Nigeria on Tuesday faulted the warning. The General Secretary of CAN, Joseph Daramola, in an interview with THE PUNCH, said the advice was unappreciated, adding that the PTF should discuss with CAN or the leadership of the church.

He said,

“How can they sit down in one place and warned against Christmas carol? Have we not been going to church since all these days?

Or are they trying to stop church activities again?

“If they want to contain likely spike, fine however, heeding the advice is the exclusive decision of the CAN President.”

Punch noted that the Spokesperson of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Simbo Olorunfemi, did not respond to calls and inquiries sent to him.