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COVID-19: 80% Infected Persons Don’t Show Symptoms – NCDC
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has stated that only 20 percent of suspected coronavirus infection is symptomatic.
Making the known at the weekend during a one-day training on COVID-19 for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), organised by UNICEF, in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Health, a representative of the National Rapid Response Team on COVID-19, NCDC, Dr Pius Ononigwe, said the remaining 80 percent are asymptomatic.
The implication of this, he said, is that 80 percent of people infected with the coronavirus do not have any idea on being infected because they don’t experience any symptom.
“What we’re trying to say is that about 80 percent of the people infected with COVID-19 do not show symptoms.
“You see symptoms in about 20 percent. Based on the present guideline, when ch we’re trying to expand, symptomatic cases are basically the Target now”, he said.
Consequently, he continued, “if we test symptomatic cases, those ones that asymptomatic are not tested”.
This, he said, justifies the institution of social distancing, continuous washing of hands with water, as well as all other preventive respiratory hygiene.
According to him, this knowledge would enable everybody to treat themselves as a suspect since no one can be totally sure of who has the virus.
“This way, we would be able to use these measures to cover the gap for some of the things we’re not able to do.
“At the end of the day, we’re going to go a long way in preventing the spread of the pandemic”, he concluded.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Field, Rivers State Office, UNICEF, Dr Guy Yogo, said as part of its Communication Strategic Plan to communities, some existing good behaviours have been identified in the communities.
According to him, more training would be carried out on these behaviours in the communities’ through the CSOs that are already being trained.
He stated that, “the Communication Strategic Plan will be built on key intervention activities relayed to exposure of risk of spreading of the disease in the communities.
“We know already that we have identified some good behaviours that we need to train more of our communities and environment. So, we’re going to Bering the plan to see how everywhere in the communities, our work places, we need to adopt good behaviours that will keep away the spreading of COVID-19″, he said.
Dr Yogo continued that in addition to training for prevention of COVID-19 infection, there is the need to also think about post COVID-19.
This, he said, is on how to cope with the impact of COVID-19, “and how we build resilient communities, individual resilience, and institutional resilience to recover in the quickest possible way from the outbreak”.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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