The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, says with the onset of the rainy season which comes along with an increase in flu-like diseases, children are at the risk of contracting and spreading coronavirus if schools are reopened now.
It explained that with the nation’s weak health system as well as the very low risk perception of the COVID-19 pandemic, reopening schools now would further spread the coronavirus in the country.
NCDC Head, Risk Communication Yahya Disu stated this during a webinar hosted by the Plan International Nigeria’s Country Director, Hussaini Abdu, with the support from the European Union, and the theme of the session was: “Rethinking Education: Perspective and Challenges of Remote and Alternative Learning in COVID-19 Pandemic”.
Disu explained that the risk perception by the public is still very low and it is because the population structure consists mostly of youths who may have the disease and not have symptoms.
However, Mabel Evwierhoma of the University of Abuja called on government to take a cue from some private higher institutions of learning by investing in blended or mixed learning to surmount Nigeria-19 pandemic.