I've closely followed COVID-19 coverage for more than 1 year. Here are my key takeaways. (Part 1)
In January of 2020, I started seeing news of a novel illness in China. At that time, I didn't give it much attention because of the then ongoing impeachment trial of Donald Trump. One of my favourite pastimes is following up on current news and topical issues. So, it was towards the end of the impeachment trial that the news of this new infectious disease in China started picking steam in the traditional and social media. The possibility of a new transmissible infection reaching the shores of Africa, for me, was a dreadful thing to think about because it brings back the memories of the 2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa. As a practicing health care worker in Nigeria, I remember how it felt seeing febrile patients with history of travel to regions with confirmed Ebola cases. The last thing I wanted was to relive that experience. Hence, out of fear, anxiety and much trepidation, I closely followed every key event related to this novel viral illness that later came to be named COVID-19