A professor of virology at the University of Ibadan and a member of the Oyo State Task Force on COVID-19, David Olaleye has re-assured parents in Oyo State who are nursing fear about their wards resuming schools for academic activities amidst growing coronavirus cases not to panic.
Olaleleye stressed that it is relatively safe to ask the children to return to school in the state as measures have been put in place to ensure that the lives of these children are well protected in their various schools.
Fielding questions from Aanuoluwapo Omorinde on IMPACT POINT – a news and current affairs programme on IBR 92.5fm Ibadan, the expert said “we just must learnt to live with the new normal”.
On the programme monitored by OYOINSIGHT.COM, Olaleye explained that “This pandemic will not go anytime soon, so shall we forever lock our schools?”.
”The decision to re-open schools was scientifically taken after recommendations from the commissioner for education and his team because that is how it works.
“The result of what happened in the past was annalyzed and it was discovered that it will be safe to re-open the schools.”
On the criticisms that have greeted some of the decisions of the Task Force on COVID-19 in the State, Olaleye noted that Oyo State takes the lead in so many things.
In his words, “It was Oyo State that first introduced the use of facemask in Nigeria, quote me anywhere. And it was as a result of the research carried out”
He warned the people to be very careful and vigilant as many carriers of coronavirus do not show any symptoms.
“Your greatest enemy now is that person beside you who does not wear face mask. Many of the people who have contracted coronavirus are asymptomatic as they don’t show any sign. We talk of that Italian who brought the virus to Nigeria. That is only the first diagnosed case. He may really not be the first case in Nigeria but he was the first to be discovered”.
The don also made some clarifications.
“The argument that only those with underlying ailment die of clronavirus is false. Anyone who is above 50 or 60 years of age definitely will have one ailment or the other he or she will be nursing but how many people go for regular check-up? If you are old and you don’t have one ailment or the other, you need to watch it.”
He advised the people to always abide by the safety protocols with a stern warning that coronavirus is ravaging.
