Professor Akin Abayomi, the Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, has said that the state has passed the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic and is currently on the flattening stage. This is really positive and impressive news as Lagos has remained the epicentre of the disease in Nigeria since the pandemic broke out.
Abayomi who is currently battling the viral disease, said this in an interview with Nigeria Info FM on Wednesday August 26. The first case of the viral disease was recorded in Lagos in February.
Corroborating Abayomi’s stance, the state Governor, Sanwo-Olu disclosed same while giving an update on COVID-19 in the state on Saturday, noting that there is a consistent decline in the rate of confirmed COVID-19 infections in the state.
He, however, urged the residents to continue to observe the necessary safety precautions.
He said:
Lagos State continues to be the epicentre not only of the pandemic; but also, I am pleased to say, of the response as well.
We continue to lead the way in testing, tracing and treating aggressively, and adapting our responses to the rapidly evolving nature of the pandemic situation.
I am also pleased to announce that our modelling shows that all our efforts at responding to this pandemic, are achieving the desired goal of flattening the curve, as we continue to see a consistent decline in the rate of confirmed COVID-19 infections in the State.
“I must, however, say that even as we continue to record a decline in the number of newly confirmed cases in the State,
this is not the time to rest on our oars and completely disregard the very necessary safety precautions that have been issued for our safety and well-being.”
Meanwhile, in his radio interview, Abayomi said that from the government’s observations, the state has passed the worst of the pandemic.
”Lagos might not be at its peak in the #COVID19 pandemic but it’s not over yet as we may see an escalation of positive cases. Until we see a decline in number of positives cases we shouldn’t relent.
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.
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.
So our observation is that Lagos has passed 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.
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.”
