Medical Academy Urges Flight Restrictions Amid China COVID-19 Surge
Call for Immediate Government Action
Nigeria’s Academy of Medicine Specialties has urged the Federal Government to restrict flights from China. Academy President, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, issued this urgent statement. Specifically, he called for quick action to prevent a new COVID-19 wave.
Concerns Over the Current Outbreak
This call follows a Reuters report from December 28, 2022. According to the report, Chinese hospitals and funeral homes faced intense pressure as surging COVID-19 cases drained their resources. Furthermore, many countries now doubt China’s official data. Consequently, this has prompted new travel rules for Chinese visitors worldwide.
Details of the Proposed Restrictions
Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, who is also the Founder of the Medical Art Center, proposed strict restrictions. His proposal targets all flights from China, including those routed through hubs like Qatar, Ethiopia, and South Africa. Ultimately, he believes this will combat a drastic increase in cases.
Direct Statement from Prof. Ashiru
“Nigeria should immediately tighten her borders,” Prof. Ashiru said. “In practice, we must restrict flights from China via Qatar, Ethiopian, South Africa, and other airlines. We cannot afford a spillover of the current COVID-19 increase. Therefore, we must reinstate all control measures for incoming flights from eastern routes. Additionally, travellers from China must show a negative COVID-19 test from 48 hours before landing.”
Reinstatement of Public Health Measures
Beyond travel rules, Prof. Ashiru also insisted on reinstating PTF regulations. These measures include social distancing, hand washing, using sanitizers, and wearing facemasks. He emphasized that the Federal Government must be proactive.
Expert Warning on Testing and National Vigilance
Dr. Oladipo Kolawole, a medical virologist at Adeleke University, supported this call. He strongly warned Nigerians to strictly follow non-pharmaceutical measures to prevent a major outbreak.
“Everyone must be careful,” Dr. Kolawole said. “For context, we must avoid a repeat of the third wave of the 1918 Spanish influenza. However, testing has reduced. As a result, we lack an accurate picture of the current situation. To address this, authorities must carry out more COVID-19 tests. This action will help us understand the trend and identify circulating variants. Finally, we must also monitor and coordinate international travel carefully, especially from affected countries.”
