Omicron: Canada Bars Nigerians, Fear Spreads As NCDC Records Three Cases

Virologists on Wednesday expressed concern that there was a high risk of community transmission of Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the country.

The virologists, including a professor of Medical Virology at the University of Maiduguri,  Marycelin Baba, who stated this in separate interviews with The PUNCH while reacting to detection of three cases of the Omicron variant in the country, called for community testing.

The experts stated these as Canada placed travel bans on Nigeria, Egypt and  Malawi.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control had on Wednesday morning announced the discovery of three cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

The NCDC’s detection of three cases of Omiron variant  came three days after Canada said it had detected cases of the variant in two travellers, who recently visited Nigeria.

A statement released by the NCDC Director-General, Ifedayo Adetifa, stated that the strain was detected in three persons with travel history to South Africa.

-Punch