COVID-19: Social distancing is grossly insufficient – College of Medicine Provost

COVID-19: Social distancing is grossly insufficient – College of Medicine Provost

Provost, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Prof Emiola Olapade-Olaopa, has declared that social distancing is a grossly insufficient measure in curbing the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Prof Olapade-Olaopa said this while publicly declaring that he and the Deputy Provost tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the professor of surgery who specialises in urology, “What is required of us all is physical distancing and not social distancing, and self-isolation is not social-isolation.”

Social distancing is the act of keeping distance from others so as to prevent contracting the virus from them or giving them the virus. WHO advises that a distance of at least three feet between two people is sufficient precaution.

Prof Olapade-Olaopa however insisted that while distancing oneself from other people is very important, this must be complemented with physical distancing, which is distancing from any physical object that may have been a resting place for the virus.

Such will include door handles, ATM keypads, table and counter tops, mobile devices among so many others.

It would be noted that the first case of COVID-19 was discovered in Nigeria on 27 February in an Italian. By Saturday March 28, the number of confirmed cases in Nigeria had grown to 97 with one fatality.

Globally, the virus has infected over 600,000 people but over 139,000 of these have recovered. COVID has a global fatality rate of less than 5%.

The University of Ibadan has set up a comprehensive committee to handle its response to COVID-19. Individuals experiencing symptoms are advised to call:

UI Health Services:

08077125099

09062974561

UCH Hotlines:

08131733982

08177557039

08131733694

Oyo State COVID-19 EOC hotlines:

08095394000

08095863000