Coronavirus not death sentence- expert

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Coronavirus otherwise known as COVID-19 is just a respiratory tract infection, and not something that is a death sentence, according to Dr. Josephine Okechukwu, Director of FCT Public Health Department.
This assertion is coming as the residents in Abuja, the nation’s capital city continue to cope with tough measures of living in the wake of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Okechukwu, who spoke on the sidelines of the inauguration of the FCT Emergency Response Team recently, also cautioned against stigmatising people suspected or confirmed to have contracted the disease.
She noted that prior to the recent COVID-19 outbreak, before now, Nigerians normally go through flu issues, which with proper medical care was effectively handled.
Her words: “We all know that COVID-19 is just a respiratory tract infection, so it’s not something that is a death sentence.
“So let’s support people especially family members who have COVID-19, we shouldn’t stigmatise them.
“And before now, we normally go through flu in this country, so I want to assure FCT residents and Nigeria generally, there is no cause for panic.”
Meanwhile, on availability of standard isolation centres in Abuja, the Director explains: “We all know that it’s not easy to construct a normal building, so the isolation centre we have in Gwagwalada is under construction will be in place in the next three weeks for use.
“But the temporary site (facility) that we are using now is a new structure that is well equipped and functioning. It has about thirty-beds space, and in case we have more cases we are covered.”