It is no longer news that Nigerians loves partying and attending social functions. Social media is always awash with pictures of diverse people attending one ‘Owambe’(a sobriquet used by many Lagosians to refer to a party)or the other.
When COVID-19 broke out, the vibrant Nigerian social scene was greatly affected with many resorting to virtual events.
TheNewsGuru(TNG) takes a look at necessary safety tips to adhere to so as to avoid contracting the virus .
1 .Avoid hugs and handshakes
When you attend any of these ‘Owambes’, it is necessary for you to avoid hugs and handshakes.A safe greeting like elbow bumps is a better option instead of hugs and handshakes.
A nurse and infection prevention director at Banner-University Medical Centre in the US, Brandie Anderson, said physical touch should be avoided for the time being.
She said, “As humans, physical touch doesn’t just feel nice, it’s crucial to our overall health and well-being. And with people around the world practicing social distancing and self-isolation to curb the spread, some of us are feeling the negative effects.
“So, even though countries are slowly reopening, consider this before you run and tackle someone in a giant bear hug: COVID-19 can still easily spread from person-to-person, even when someone doesn’t show any symptoms. Nothing has changed in how it spreads, so follow social distancing practices and continue to wear a face covering where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain”.
- Spend less time at a party
Though Nigerians are used to partying for long hours, however with the outbreak of the pandemic, it is wise to curtail the time you spend at a party.It is also imperative for you to attend parties where the organizers have regard for COVID-19 safety protocols issued by the government.
- Plan outdoor rather than indoor party
The tendency to contract COVID-19 is higher indoors, especially in cramped spaces where people may not be wearing face coverings or keeping their distance from others.
Racheal Lutz in her article ‘Guide to event planning amidst coronavirus said:” One of the most important things event planners can do to mitigate this outbreak is to continually assess whether to postpone, cancel, or significantly reduce the number of attendees at the mass gathering. Some considerations for this option include the density of attendees within the confined area, the potential economic impact to those involved, and the level of transmission among attendees and those they could spread the virus to when they return home”.