FCT residents want COVID-19 test extended to general public

Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja have suggested to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to extend the test for COVID-19 to the general public.

The residents who were reacting to the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the FCT, made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

An accountant, Mr Godwin Emmanuel, said if the NCDC could go public with the test, those likely to be infected would be quarantined, thereby curtailing the spread of the virus.

He said government should facilitate the process of the test by making the machines available, in order to test “at least 60 per cent of FCT residents.”

Emmanuel said if this was done, with those testing positive quarantined, it would then dawn on the people to take the preventive measures outlined by the NCDC more seriously.

He added that in this case, the 14 days lockdown ordered by government would not be enough for the exercise.

According to him, the 14 days period is to curb the spread of the virus by those who got infected earlier.

Asset Manager, Asa Mansard Pensions Ltd., Mr Henry Oshiokhamele, said it would be helpful if free tests were conducted in selective centres with clusters of people.

He further said the measure would help track infected citizens quickly as well as enable residents to know their current status.

“We can do that if the political will is there; free tests can be conducted in some wards if we have the facilities.

“It is possible and people who test positive can be easily identified and quarantined to avoid random spread of this disease,’’ Oshiokhamele said. (NAN)

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