NCDC reiterates stance on social distancing
The Biafra Nations Youth League (BNYL) has chided the Presidency for not maintaining social distancing during the burial of President Mohammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari.
National Leader of BNYL, Princewill Chimezie Richard, in a statement berated the Presidency for breaking the lockdown rules in Abuja.
The group reminded the Federal Government of the ban placed on public burials wondering why Abba Kyari was buried at the period of the lockdown.
“What examples are they showing to the masses, they declared lockdown, banned burial activities yet they are breaking the rules,” the statement said.
“All those that attended the burial including those that carried the corpse
might have been infected by Coronavirus, since they said he died of COVID-19 and not diabetes he has been battling before the outbreak of the virus”.
Nigerians on social media had earlier berated the Presidency after a video showing Garba Shehu, Buhari’s Spokesman in a crowd when the body of Kyari arrived at the defense guest house in Abuja on Saturday.
The burial had more than the recommended 20 people in attendance and the role of social distancing was also broken.
The late CoS died of COVID-19 in Lagos State on Friday and was disclosed by the presidency on Saturday morning.
Earlier, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had reiterated the need to “refrain from attending mass gatherings to prevent the further spread of COVID-19,” even as a crowd gathered at the burial of former Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.
Nigerians had criticized the crowd that attending Malam Kyari’s burial in Abuja, saying it made mockery of the social distancing policy being preached by the government.
In a message posted on its Twitter handle, NCDC said, “Even at this time, as we mourn loved ones lost to COVID-19, including the recently deceased, President’s Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, we need to refrain from attending mass gatherings to prevent the further spread of #COVID19 Let us #StaySafe & protect each other.”
The health agency also referenced its published guidance “on ensuring safe and dignified burial” while preventing the spread of the deadly virus.
According to the NCDC guidelines, people may observe the dead body of an infected person “without touching the body at a minimum distance of two metres” and “in the event a ceremony is held, the number of attendees should be limited.
“The ceremony should be held in a well-ventilated structure, attendees should
be advised on social distancing throughout the event, ensuring practice of
hand and respiratory hygiene.”
