At least two persons have died due to the new Delta variant of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) in Oyo State.
In addition, one person is isolated, receiving medical attention at one of the state isolation facilities, while contact tracing has started.
The State Incident Manager and Coordinator of the Energency Operation Centers, Dr Olabode Ladipo, confirmed this development on Monday.
He explained that the variant would have entered into the state through movement of people travelling around the world.
He urged people to take the guidelines and extra measures advised more seriously, noting that adhering to such would go a long way to help stem the tide and prevent further outbreak of the variant in the state.
Oladipo said: “Two of the cases are deceased but contact tracing is ongoing. We have gotten one of the contacts in isolation in the state facility but let me assure you that every form of effort is being proved to ensure that all the contact of everyone that we have received so far in the last two, three weeks are followed up and anyone of them that is positive, we will ensure that isolation is given.”
Vaccination
He noted that the number of people vaccinated so far in the state was around one percent of the population when compared to the larger population, just like in any other state of the federation, saying as such, people need to be more cautious by moving back to the use of face mask, regular handwashing and physical distancing, as much as possible.
“In Oyo state we have been able to vaccinate about 90,000 people and in a state where the population of people is about 8.9million, it has not reached the threshold that should be able to confer any form of health immunity in population,” Ladipo said.
When asked about some insinuations making the rounds about the vaccine, especially on magnetic possibilities and reduced lifespan of those who have received the jab, Oladipo said he had personally tested the claims and found them to be false.
He explained that the vaccine, once given, would boost the recipient’s immunity, which is meant to fight the infection and lessen the effect of subsequent infections, saying the vaccine would not prevent the infection.
Ladipo stated: “People that have taken the vaccines can still be infected but they would not have overtly severe illness that will follow. So we need to understand that if we do have that at the back of our mind, even people that are vaccinated like I am will still want to use the face mask, still use the sanitizers, wash their hands and still try to keep social distance.”
The Incident Manager disclosed that the Delta variant, a variant that is giving quite a lot of concerns to countries around the world and has been responsible for quite a lot of fatalities in India, is more deadly with higher risk of transmissibility and as such urged people to be cautious in their conduct.
He, however, ruled out the possibility of immediate restrictions in view of the discovery of the Delta variant in the state saying “I think it is too early in the day to start thinking in terms of lockdown or things of that nature. The financial stress within communities and within people is really serious.”
Ladipo revealed that restrictions are to be considered at the highest level of government, not at his own level.
Confidence Okwuchi
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