COVID-19 DELTA VARIANT: TIME TO ACT IS NOW

“The highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 is the fastest and fittest coronavirus strain that will ‘pick off’ the most vulnerable people. It has the potential ‘to be more lethal’ because it’s more efficient in the way it transmits between humans,”

-Dr. Mike Ryan, of the World Health Organization

In December 2019, WHO was informed of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan City, China. A novel coronavirus was identified as the cause by Chinese authorities on 7th January 2020 and was temporarily named “2019-nCoV”. Ever since, the world has never been the same.

Going by startling statistics available on WHO news dashboard confirmed global cases stand at more than 18.8m with confirmed deaths at over 4.05m while the vaccine doses have so far been administered on about 3.5bn people worldwide.

But just when those of us still lucky to be alive were about celebrating victory against the excruciating pandemic, the news is that of the emergence of the Delta variant. It has come from India via the mutant of the earlier version of the coronavirus, cutting short our dancing steps. For now, it is jolting us to a clarion call to brace up for a more dehumanizing and asphyxiating variant.

The doubting Thomases should consider these screaming headlines: “Most of UK Revises COVID-19 Travel Lists Amid Rising Case Fears”. “Pop Star, Olivia Rodrigo Pushes Biden’s Youth Vaccination Drive.” “Nigeria Records COVID-19 Spike with 161 New Cases”.

In fact, WHO’s Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, stated in a recent speech on the health body’s website that: “Delta and other highly transmissible variants are driving catastrophic waves of case, which are translating into high numbers of hospitalisations and death”. He went further to caution the world against the false hope of vaccines as being a quick fix to the virus. He therefore, wants world leaders to put in collaborative efforts to stop the spread of the new variant around the globe.

What are the symptoms of the Delta variant? That is the all- important question. According to WHO the symptoms are quite similar to those seen with the original coronavirus strain and other variants, including a persistent cough, headache, fever, and sore throat.

Yet, it has now spread across 104 countries! Though by June 1, it had spread to 62 countries, some two weeks later, it had been found in 80 countries and by July 4, the number had risen to 104. Kazakhstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Namibia, Oman and Sierra Leone are the latest countries to confirm the presence of the Delta variant. Sad to say that Nigeria has since joined the fray!

Recent media reports stated that Oyo COVID-19 Task Force urges vigilance as it had uncovered the virulent Delta variant of coronavirus in the state. The State Incident Manager and coordinator of the Emergency Operations Centre, Dr. Olabode Ladipo, has confirmed this development

On his part, Governor Sanwo-Olu has ordered religious gatherings and event centres to cut down to 50% capacity. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Nigeria is increasing rapidly following daily report by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital accounted for the highest number of cases in the country. Health officials are already raising concern over shortage of oxygen to patients suffering from acute respiratory illnesses.

Explaining the trajectory of the COVID-19 incidents, Sanwo-Olu stated that: “From the beginning of July, we started to experience a steep increase in the number of daily confirmed cases, with the test positivity rate going from 1.1 per cent at the end of June 2021 to its current rate of 6.6 per cent as of July 8, 2021. The rapid increase within a week gives great cause for concern”. He has therefore, called for greater vigilance ahead of the gatherings in mosques ahead of the Sallah celebration.

Though the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Chris Bode of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has debunked viral reports on social media that Block B Wards have been reopened for COVID-19 and the wards are full of patients there must be preparation ahead of eventualities.

The shock on individuals, communities, countries, continents as well as public and private institutions has become the trigger for salient questions all begging for urgent answers. The public should be sensitized on what really the Delta variant of COVID-19 is. Where did it emerge from? What are the symptoms and what efforts are being made to curtail its spread, globally?

Significant too is that we have to know, as concerned citizens in specific terms what our dear country Nigeria and its NCDC are doing to clip the virus’ wings?

This time around there must be mass public enlightenment on what it all entails, through all arms of the media. NCDC must be transparent in all its dealings with the victims. And the governors should not wait for any mass protest as it was with the #ENDSARS to distribute palliatives to the helpless citizens. It should borrow a fresh leaf from the Paul Kegame-led Rwanda.

Ayo Oyoze Baje, Lagos