Social Distancing Gives A False Sense Of Security - Ben Ayade

The Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, has said that the practice of safe social distancing was not enough to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country.

He made this view known while on Channels TV, stating that the use of face masks guarantees the needed protection against contracting the virus.

He said that this view is backed by his research as a microbiologist, where he has observed that the use of face masks is backed by science and that the directive on social distancing does not guarantee that the virus does not spread.

Ayade said, “Social distancing presupposes that things are so equal, that you stay in an isolated room, it is completely wrong because in natural circumstances, in our own cultural habit people are used to interacting, we are not electric poles, we are not trees, we are interacting by nature.

“Social distancing gives a false impression of security, because I know that if you and I stand together and I sneeze, that two metres distance, the factors that govern the transmissivity are things that are beyond your own control. Variables like humidity, wind speed, wind direction, how do you control those factors?”

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Adding that, “When you wear a mask, it gives structural protection. It is a very strong option. And so, as a Professor of Microbiology, I know that as common sense.

“And that is why it (wearing of the mask) is not an economic option. It is a scientific option. That is the most popular option.”

Ayade also faulted the World Health Organisation's 'reversing' claims on the use of face masks, saying that the organsation has reversed itself more than once on the use of face masks.

The governor said, “The same WHO said mask doesn’t work but they reversed themselves after proper research that showed that the use of nose mask reduces droplets that are up to 95 per cent.

“The WHO came out to reverse herself. In several other research findings, WHO has been seen severally reversing herself. Come to the real substance, the use of the nose mask confirms structural protection.”