- Tells states to be wary while lifting lockdown
The Presidential Task Force on the coronavirus pandemic has said that five states in the country are billed to participate in COVID-19 drug trial being coordinated by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Chairman of the task force, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapa, who revealed this in Abuja Friday, did not however name the states.
According to him, at the end of the trials, the relevant health authorities will make statements on acceptable drugs for treating the disease.
On the use of local herbs to manage the disease, Mustapha assured that the PTF remains supportive of the development of a home cure for this disease.
He, however, stressed the need for scientists to follow laid-down protocols, noting that that the NCDC has been mandated to publish some of the guidelines for public consumption.
He said: “As additional information, I am pleased to inform you that the WHO recently coordinated a recent virtual meeting from 70 traditional medicine experts from countries across Africa to re-emphasise the recognition of the potency of traditional cure.”
Mustapha pointed out that state governments have been encouraged to adapt national guidelines as suitable to their State, but that such adaptation should be informed by empirical evidence of progress made.
He admonished that states lifting restrictions must consider the consequences of their actions, and the impact on the effort to contain the disease spread.
The SGF stated: “The PTF, therefore, urges states that are lifting restrictions which allows for large congregation of people to weigh their consequences in relation to creating opportunities for more seeding of the virus thereby negating gains already made.”