Coronavirus: Three in 10 Nigerians believe they are immune to COVID-19 - Poll reveals

- Despite the daily rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria, three out of 10 Nigerians still believe they are immune to the virus

- This is revealed in a survey released by NOIPolls, a country-specific polling service

- The survey also shows that six percent of Nigerians still consider the COVID-19 outbreak in the country to be fake

Despite the spread of COVID-19 cases to 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), about three out of 10 Nigerians still believe they are immune to the deadly infection, a survey by NOIPolls has shown.

NOIPolls, a country-specific polling service in the West African region, says the survey which was conducted in the first week of April shows that poor knowledge and perception of the virus is still rife among Nigerians.

As of Thursday, April 16, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, said Nigeria has 442 confirmed cases with 13 deaths.

Despite the rising figure, the survey shows that six percent of Nigerians still consider the COVID-19 outbreak in the country to be fake.

They believe the outbreak “is real in other countries but not in Nigeria.”

According to some, the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria is propaganda and a means for the government to embezzle funds.

Others said they have not seen anybody infected by the virus in their states, hence their disbelief.

Also, a total of 28% of adults in the survey said they are immune to the coronavirus without providing any scientific evidence to back their claims.

Majority (42%t) of them held this belief mainly because they believe in God, while many (35%) believe they are immune because they observe proper hygiene which prevents them from contracting the disease.

Some (11%) said “being black and African” makes you immune while others still believe the country’s hot weather neutralises the severity of the disease.

Legit.ng notes, however, that the NCDC has confirmed the outbreak of the disease in Nigeria and many patients who have recovered from the virus have also confirmed this.

Nevertheless, the survey by NOIPolls which was obtained from Nigerian adults (above 18) in the six geopolitical zones of the country, revealed that almost all adult Nigerians (99%) are aware of the outbreak of coronavirus disease in the country.

About 87 per cent of respondents said they are concerned that they may contract the virus.

The survey found that Nigerians rated the NCDC high in providing information or updates on COVID-19 and testing to those who need to be tested in the country.

In his reaction, Nigeria’s minister of information, Lai Mohammed, said on Thursday, April 16, that the results of the survey have dispelled the ‘fake news’ that there is not enough awareness of the virus in the country.

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Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the information minister debunked the reports claiming that one of the Chinese doctors recently brought into Nigeria had tested positive for the virus.

The minister debunked the claim on Wednesday, April 15, during the daily media briefing of the presidential task force on COVID-19 in Abuja.

Mohammed said the task force had been having to devote as much energy devoted to the fight against COVID-19 to debunking fake news being regularly spun against the efforts of government in fighting the pandemic.

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Source: Legit.ng