The Lagos State Government on Tuesday warned that a second wave of coronavirus pandemic might ensue if citizens do not strictly adhere to precautionary measures.

Akin Abayomi, the state’s health commissioner said resurgence of COVID-19 infection could lead to another round of lockdown of the economy.

Mr. Abayomi advised the citizens against unnecessary movement and social gatherings, saying that travelling into and outside the country should be discouraged, except if absolutely necessary.

The health commissioner said that many countries and cities were experiencing a second and third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a resultant spike in the number of cases and fatalities.

“The first wave of Coronavirus started in December 2019 and swept through an unprepared world.

“The first case of COVID-19 in Nigeria was recorded in Lagos on Feb. 27. Lagos has since become the epicentre of the outbreak in Nigeria with a record of 21,107 confirmed cases and 212 deaths from the virus till date.

“The containment measures put in place at the time included COVID-19 testing, isolation and treatment, surveillance, total shutdown of the state for about 12 weeks and partial shutdown of social, economic and academic activities for over four months,” Mr. Abayomi said.

The commissioner expressed concern that the use of face masks, social distancing and hand hygiene had reduced among citizens.

“The erroneous belief that COVID-19 has been conquered and is no more in Nigeria should be discarded.

“Based on our data, this assumption is invalid,” he said.

Mr. Abayomi said though, the state has reached its peak as predicted, and a decline in the number of positive cases, citizens should not conclude that it is over.

“COVID-19 is still very much with us as evidenced in the number of cases being recorded in the community daily and occasional deaths from severe complications.

“This is the more reason why citizens should not relent in this regard, if we don’t want to experience a second wave of the disease,” he said.