The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the agency spearheading the nation’s COVID-19 response, has condemned the mass turnout of mourners at the burial of Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari.
Kyari, who died of COVID-19-related complications on Friday, was buried according to Islamic rites on Saturday in Abuja.
In defiance of NCDC’s social distancing directives, a large crowd gathered to witness the burial which held at the Gudu Cemetery.
Videos and photos of the crowd have been circulating on social media, provoking angry reactions from Nigerians.
Reacting, NCDC reiterating its directive against mass gatherings to curb the spread of the virus in Nigeria.
“Even at this time, as we mourn loved ones lost to COVID-19, including the recently deceased, President’s Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, we need to refrain from attending mass gatherings to prevent the further spread of #COVID19 Let us #StaySafe & protect each other,” the agency tweeted.
See tweet:
Even at this time, as we mourn loved ones lost to COVID-19, including the recently deceased, President’s Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, we need to refrain from attending mass gatherings to prevent the further spread of #COVID19
Let us #StaySafe & protect each other
— NCDC (@NCDCgov) April 18, 2020
The agency noted that although many of the mourners were wearing face masks, social distancing guidelines still needed to be followed to avoid contracting the virus.
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According to the agency, 493 cases of the virus have been in the country as of Friday, April 17.
Fifty-one cases were recorded yesterday alone, with Lagos recording 32 of those cases.