There is some light at the end of the tunnel. After 4 weeks of lockdowns in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun state, the Federal Government announced last night that it would be easing restrictions starting from next week Monday. This is in a bid to begin the gradual process of restoring the economy and livelihoods of people in the country, while at the same time continuing to stay vigilant in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
And speaking of staying vigilant, the fact that restrictions are easing does not mean that we are no longer at risk of coming in contact with COVID-19. To the contrary, the number of confirmed cases in Nigeria have increased by several magnitudes since the lockdowns began. This is why it is especially important that we all continue to maintain social distancing protocols even as we attempt to get a semblance of our former lives back.
To help us keep that need to stay vigilant at heart, here are 5 things you need to avoid doing after the lockdown.
1. Don’t visit all your friends and family
As tempting as it might be to pay everyone you know and love a visit, now is simply not the time. So avoid making such visits and encourage your loved ones from doing the same. We still have safer means of staying in touch with these people, so let’s continue to use them until we no longer have to.
2. Don’t attend large gatherings
This includes weddings, naming ceremonies and all kinds of owambes. It is impossible to maintain any form of social distancing in such gatherings, and the fact of the matter is that such gatherings remain a good place for diseases like COVID-19 to spread. So let’s continue to avoid them shall we?
3. Don’t forget to wash your hands
This is disease prevention 101 at this point. Our greatest form of defense against viruses remains the simple act of washing our hands. And by extension, not using unwashed hands to touch your eyes, nose or mouth. In fact, it is best to avoid touching your face altogether, whether your hands are washed or otherwise.
4. Don’t go out without a face mask
Part of the mandates made by the government to combat the spread of the coronavirus is that we must all wear face masks when out and about. And while these face masks are not a fail-safe means of preventing the spread of COVID-19, they at least help and inspire confidence that its wearer is taking some preventive measures.
5. Don’t go out if you don’t need to
This should go without saying, but we’re saying it all the same. Don’t go out if you don’t need to. For example, why would you need to make a grocery run when you can buy all the groceries you need online? Or go to the bank when you can perform most transactions like making payments from your phone? You need to question every single task that might cause you to leave your home like this, and only go out when it is absolutely necessary.
Those are 5 things we all need to avoid after the lockdown. Hopefully if we abide by them and stay vigilant overall, we can beat the coronavirus pandemic. What is the first thing you’ll do after the lockdown restrictions lift? (I don’t know about you, but I am badly itching for a haircut.) Let us know in the comments section below.