The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA has asked State Governors to avoid relaxing the lockdown amid the coronavirus outbreak to allow citizens to attend Jumat prayers and Easter Sunday services.

In a recent press statement jointly signed by the President, Dr. Francis Faduyile and the General Secretary, Olumuyiwa Odusote alleged that a few governors were already breaking the current measure of preventing COVID-19- social distancing, and it is not great for us.

According to NMA, the recent declaration by the Cross River State Governor that social distancing is unnecessary once you are wearing a face mask is a huge concern for the country and its people.

The association added that everyone should remain indoors since there now evidence of community transmission of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

NMA had this to say via a recent statement, “Of particular concern are the declaration by the Cross River State Governor that social distancing is not needed while wearing a face mask; a moratorium on the lockdown to allow mass gathering in mosques and churches starting from Friday to Sunday in Rivers state; and the lifting of the ban on Friday prayers by Katsina and Kogi States government.”

“While appreciating the prime place of religion in our national lives and especially the value Christians place on Easter, we place on record that there is now the evidence of community transmission of COVID-19.

“As such, relaxing any guideline that promotes mass gatherings in any part of our nation now can only heighten and not flatten the curve of transmission dynamics.”