Easing of lockdown measures in Nigeria: Implications for the healthcare system

The year 2020 was ushered in with a historical novel virus (COVID-19) pandemic in a manner that the world has never witnessed before. The human-to-human transmission rates of the virus are not only alarming and worrisome but also, the respiratory dysfunction and unwavering deaths it caused have risen global concerns. We employ the daily situation data on reported cases of COVID-19 to explicate the implications of the lockdown lifting in Nigeria using both qualitative and descriptive statistics. The study is particularly motivated by the urgency of need to inform policymakers and the government on the pending danger of an unplanned phased lifting of lockdown, which contravenes medical standards at the local and international fora. Of the three episodes of COVID-19 identified in Nigeria, the easing up phases witness the highest cases of the virus with the addition of over 32,000 in just 73 days. Besides, there are clear indications that the pre-planning processes that led to easing the lockdown did not adhere to the global practices and guidelines as stipulated by WHO. Every day of the easing phase of the lockdown has witnessed an increasing number of cases indicating the possibility is that the COVID 19 cases may escalate in future dates. By implication, the healthcare system is at the risk of being overwhelmed and thus unable to rescue the situation which could further aggravate the number of untimely death afflicting the citizens.