PRESS RELEASE: NEW COVID-19 VARIANT

 

 

         THE POLYTECHNIC IRESI                                          

                                                                                  Friday, 3rd December, 2021

 PRESS RELEASE

NEW COVID-19 VARIANT IN NIGERIA: MANAGEMENT ADVISES ON VACCINATION, NON-CLINICAL MEASURES

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ollowing the confirmation last week, by the Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC) about the discovery of COVID-19 new variant – Omicron Variant - among three travelers from South Africa, the Management of the Polytechnic Iresi, Osun State, hereby advises strict adherence to compulsory use of facemasks on campus. 

The Omicron variant is a variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The variant was first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) from South Africa on 24 November 2021. On 26 November 2021, the WHO designated it as a variant of concern and named it after omicron, the fifteenth letter in the Greek alphabet. 

The variant has an unusually large number of mutations, several of which are novel, and several of which affect the spike protein targeted by most vaccines at the time of discovering Omicron. This level of variation has led to concerns regarding transmissibility, immune system evasion, and vaccine resistance. As a result, the variant was quickly designated as being "of concern", and travel restrictions were introduced by several countries on African nations in an attempt to slow its international spread.

In the light of this, staff and students are enjoined to always use facemasks within the premises of the Polytechnic and are also advised to get vaccinated and at the same time, observe the non-clinical measures against COVID-19 i.e. washing of hands regularly, use of facemasks, maintaining social distancing etc. 

Cooperation of staff and students is sought in this regard in order to nip in the bud, the continued spread of the virus and make the Polytechnic Iresi a healthy and COVID-19-free institution. 

Thank you. 

Signed. 

Salaudeen Abdullahi Ishola 

Ag. Head, TPI Public Relations and Protocols Unit.