Cold weather or increased testing? Concerns over high COVID-19 cases in Plateau

There are concerns over the increasing number of COVID-19 patients in Plateau state in recent days.

While some sources who spoke to TheCable on Tuesday blamed it on increased testing for the virus, others suspect this could be as a result of the cold weather in the state.

TheCable had reported that Plateau is becoming the epicentre of the pandemic in Nigeria, emerging with the highest number of cases for one week running.

The situation has triggered fears that this could be as a result of the cold weather in the state.

Various scientific studies, including a recent one that focused on eight countries, suggest that the coronavirus is more severe in cold weather than in warmer ones.

CNN also reported how spending more time indoors as a result of the cold weather is “likely to make the novel coronavirus spread more easily”.

While TheCable was not able to reach Nimkong Lar, Plateau commissioner for health, Dabe Francis, the state epidemiologist, declined to comment on the situation when contacted over the phone.

However, a medical doctor who works at a testing centre at the National Veterinary Research Institute in the state told TheCable that the high number of cases not surprising because there are government-driven efforts to test more people.

The doctor, who asked not to be named as he is not authorised to speak to the press, said the Plateau state government had mandated civil servants to get tested for the coronavirus before resuming.

“Every civil servant under the state government was mandated to take a test before they resume, and many of them have resumed,” he said.

“It is only Plateau and Lagos that have facilities for voluntary testing. What that means is every citizen that is interested is getting tested.

“You don’t have to show symptoms before you get tested or you don’t have to be in contact with a confirmed case.”

He also said some of the confirmed coronavirus cases from the state in recent days were samples taken as far back as two weeks ago.

“Some are coming as emergency testing for those with severe symptoms and might need ventilators; those ones are handled immediately,” the doctor added.

TheCable also gathered that another measure in line with the state policy for mass testing is the conduct of free testing for residents in Jos north local government area.

A resident of the state told TheCable on Wednesday that the policy commenced earlier this week, adding that anyone in the LGA who wishes to get tested “will be tested free of charge”.

Unlike Plateau, testing for the novel coronavirus still comes at a great cost in some states.

In Kogi, which has been in the limelight over lack of testing, no one was tested for the virus in August.

TheCable had reported how the state is turning a blind eye to patients with symptoms similar to those indicating coronavirus infection.

Strange deaths have also been reported in parts of Kogi.