As the second wave of COVID-19 rages on, the National Association of Resident Doctors says 725 physicians have so far been infected with COVID-19 while managing patients in several treatment facilities across the country.
NARD President, Dr. Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi further expressed concerns that about 2,573 of its members have equally been exposed to the virus.
While stressing that the total number of infected physicians was a cumulative figure from the beginning of the pandemic to date, Okhuaihesuyi told our correspondent that the infection rate of the second wave was not as virulent as the first.
“That the infection rate and fatalities are not much in the second wave is also not down to any major factor. We are just taking some precautions.
“As I speak, the resident doctors still have a challenge of inadequate PPEs especially the N95,” he said.
The NARD president also noted that while 709 residents doctors have so far recovered from the contagion, about 16 of its members have died from complications of the virus.
NARD Secretary-General, Dr. Jerry Isogun also warned that COVID-19 was not yet under control, even though the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 says the rate of infection has declined.
“It is not for us to be complacent. We must continue observing all the preventive measures put in place. For us, we cannot even say that we have enough PPEs that we need.
“Things are not under control yet. But I think the situation is better than last year in December and early January. That notwithstanding, it is not uhuru yet,” he said.
Nigeria has recorded 521 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 152,074.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Sunday disclosed via its official Twitter handle that it has so far tested 1,441,013 people since the index case was announced on February 27 last year.
