Just a few days after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control confirmed a case of Delta COVID-19 variant in Nigeria, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd. ), on Tuesday evening removed his protective mask in public, thereby flouting the Coronavirus Disease Health Protection Regulations (2021) he signed in January. Tuesday evening was not the first time the President removed his mask in public; he had removed his mask in January 2021 at a public event in his hometown in Daura, Katsina State. The PUNCH had earlier reported that with the detection of the Delta COVID-19 variant in Nigeria, experts warned against a fresh lockdown, stating that imposing a new lockdown would have devastating impacts on the economic. The deadly Delta variant is recognised by the World Health Organisation as a variant of concern, given its increased transmissibility.

Source: Punch July 14, 2021 12:44 UTC