COVID-19: How to stay healthy during lockdown

Why maintaining social distancing is important Exercises as a ‘time bomb’ for spread of virus The major reason government   instituted a lockdown is to check the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country. However, findings reveal that people are engaging in certain activities that predispose them to the disease and other health issues as […]

• Why maintaining social distancing is important
• Exercises as a ‘time bomb’ for spread of virus

The major reason government   instituted a lockdown is to check the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country. However, findings reveal that people are engaging in certain activities that predispose them to the disease and other health issues as they stay at home.

The findings reveal that people still sit in large groups in their homes and neighbourhoods without maintaining social distance from one another, even when they are coughing and sneezing. Some people have also not imbibed the habit of hand washing, and also sit at the same spot for hours on end daily without doing exercises.

Exercise is recommended by medical experts as one of the ways to cope with the lockdown and stay-healthy, but it is fast becoming a purveyor for more infections during the lockdown from the way people are going about it without imbibing social distancing.

In the mornings and evenings, all over the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), from the city centre to the suburbs, people are seen in large crowds, including adults and children, jogging or cycling along the major roads and streets, sitting in large groups to rest after exercising, or doing different kinds of exercises.

The crowds gathering along Games Village Area, Lugbe Express Way, Kuje Express Way , Kubwa Express Way and Dutse-Bwari Road even around pedestrian bridges to jog and do other forms of exercises in the last few days is enough to frustrate the social distancing aim of the lockdown in the city.

One of the joggers, who gave her name as Bessy, said she didn’t know social distancing was important even while exercising. “I joined them to kill boredom but no one is concerned about social distancing here. We carry on as normal,” she said.

Aside when doing exercises, social distancing also helps prevents COVID-19 infection  while   at home or engaged in other activities around the home.

Abdulmalik , a civil servant, has been at home for close to two weeks following the federal government’s directive for civil servants to stay at home, and  then the lockdown.

The 45-year old, who stays in Jabi, said he knows staying at home has benefits of protecting him and his family from COVID -19 but that the long stay was also making him bored and stressed. “It is not easy staying at home. I have not stayed this long indoors for several years, so I am trying to cope,” he told Daily Trust.

Asked his routine, he said when he wakes up daily, he takes his bath, eats food, and then spends the rest of the day browsing his phone or watching movies. He however said that he has not done anything about maintaining a safe distance from people when he goes out to buy food or medicine, or when people come for visit.

Linus lives in Kubwa, and has an electronics shop in town. While he obeyed the cessation of movement and has not left his area for the town since the lockdown, he has not been practising social distancing while at home. He and his wife view the stay-at-home order as an opportunity to visit friends and family in the neighbourhood.

Mr Linus in particular hangs out with many friends and neighbours where they drink, eat, play games or just chat together in the evening, sometimes in large numbers.

He told the reporter that he does not believe he could contract the disease. When told he could still hang out with fewer people but maintain physical distance, he said: “The typical African life is communal. We eat together, receive visitors; the more the merrier. I am even trying; some people still don’t believe the disease exists. They think it is a scam.”

Like Linus, some Nigerians are still seen in crowds while staying at home, and not imbibing the practice of social nor physical distancing. Some have complained of staying at home for long and have started mingling with others in ways that are detrimental to their health.

While the law enforcement officers are doing their duties in ensuring the lockdown, the public has a lot of roles in imbibing social distancing while at home, in their neighbourhoods and whenever they go out.

On  Monday, as the reporter drove through the streets of Kubwa, Lugbe and Karu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), people were seen sitting closely in groups. People also stood at crowded bus stops, and also entered crowded vehicles in their streets without any care of social distancing during the hours of 10am – 2pm when people were allowed to go out to buy medicines and food.

The reporter drove past women jam-packed in vehicles conveying them to markets. The situation was worse en route to the satellite town and suburbs.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said it was important to maintain at least one metre (3 feet) distance between you and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

The organisation said this because when someone coughs or sneezes, they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. “If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease,” WHO said.

Dr Biodun Ogungbo, a physician, said the coronavirus outbreak has exposed us to a totally different type of existence and forced us to adapt to a different life style. He said self-isolation and social distancing, virtual communication and e-learning were the order of the day. “These come with positive and negative effects, benefits and risks, good bits and complications as with all things related to life.”

He said the obvious benefit was the prevention of infection of COVID-19.

According to him,  “Preventing the infection has led to acute awareness of one’s behaviours and actions. Even one’s relationship with one’s hands and face! You cannot just touch your face anyhow or anywhere. It has led to frequent hand washing and, perhaps, improved hygiene. Handshakes are now a thing of the past and no longer a sign of rudeness. In the past, if you did not shake hands with someone, it would be perceived as a snub.”

Dr Ogungbo who is also a neurosurgeon with the Brain and Spine Surgery Consortium, Abuja, said “social distancing from relatives and friends has redefined relationships in ways that will be personal and different for each individual. Many relationships will either be strengthened or exposed for its fragility and weaknesses. Couples have to spend more time together than ever before in many situations and are forced to face the realities of the relationship. Cracks can either be strengthened or laid wide open.

“The relationship with children, of all ages, also requires management and an appreciation of the effect of the age of the child. The age determines the type of interaction. It is different for children and teenagers. It provides an opportunity, of course, for getting to know the children and playing a stronger role in their development.”

According to  Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), “In the absence of a vaccine for this disease, we have to depend on non-pharmaceutical interventions such as closure of large gatherings and cessation of movements.”

He said there was a strong chance that if these interventions are properly implemented and adhered to, “we can flatten the curve and control this outbreak. By limiting movements, we are reducing the possibility of spread of the virus causing COVID-19, which is highly transmissible.”

Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, urged the public to maintain social distance of at least five feet between them and others.

He said preventive measures such as social distancing have proven to be highly effective in curbing the spread of the disease in other parts of the world.

Dr Ogunbo recommended that the most important thing was acceptance of the situation and a daily attempt to cope. “Some routine is important and some variety is critical. The present time also presents stresses and difficulties within a family setting. Some space and time out from the family will help to decongest the brain. Be prepared to give family members time out and take some time for yourself.

“Coming together for shared experiences is also great to improve bonding and avoid boredom. So, exercise is important. Where it is possible, going for a walk and fresh air should be part of the day-to-day activities. Music and light-hearted activities like games, singing, and dancing are critical for mental health. Some people work from home and so this may provide some outlet for emotions and help with eating up the hours. It also provides some routine.

“For people on their own, total isolation from the outside world is not good. It can lead to cabin fever. This is the effect of being cooped up indoors for hours. It can lead to lassitude, irritability, short temper and anger. Depression and frank psychological breakdown or psychosis can occur. You must be aware of your mental health and stressors. Some social interaction even by telephone or video through zoom or Skype or Whatsapp will help for connectivity,” he advised.