A recent internal memo from the National Obstetric Fistula Centre in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, has warned the hospital community about the resurgence of COVID-19, stating that it is deadlier than the variant that emerged in 2019.
The memo, dated August 22, 2023, advises against hugging and encourages the use of double facemasks.
The Head of Clinical Services, Dr. Yakubu E. N., warns that the new variant, known as BA.4 and BA.5 COVID delta, presents with different symptoms such as joint pain, headache, neck and upper back pain, general weakness, loss of appetite, and pneumonia.
The memo emphasizes that the new variant directly affects the lungs, making it harder to detect through nasal swab tests, which often yield false negative results.
It urges individuals to be extremely careful, avoid crowded places, maintain a distance of 1.5 meters, wear double face masks, and practice frequent handwashing.
The memo concludes by urging readers to share this information with others to raise awareness about the severity of the new variant.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
