The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on the coronavirus pandemic has identified resistance to change as the greatest challenge it had faced in managing the national response against the virus.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF and Chairman of the PTF, Mr Boss Mustapha, who disclosed this during Thursday’s media briefing in Abuja, also warned citizens not to let their guards down against the virus following relaxation of the lockdown.

The PTF used the briefing to mark the third month of the inauguration of the nation’s national response.

Mustapha said the warning against letting guards down became very pertinent considering the fact that there had arisen a new wave of the disease in some parts of the world, adding that the raining season, which usually could increase the risk of contacting ailments resembling COVID-19 symptoms.

He said besides resistance to change by nationals, other challenges facing the national response were non-availability of a cure, inadequate manpower and infrastructure, the effect of the outbreak on the economy as well as scarcity of kits and equipment needed to fight the spread of the virus.

“By far the greatest challenges are human resistance to change, stigmatization, mental health, skepticism, culture, religious belief, rising incidents of domestic violence and a host of others.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the COVID-19 has changed our ways of life and we may never go back to what we used to know,” he said.

Warning against letting guards against contracting the virus down, the SGF said: “Always remember, that the virus is real, potent and dangerous. Our relaxed lock down should never be interpreted to mean otherwise.

“This point is further underscored by reported resurgence of a second wave in countries like China and the USA and this should put all of us on alert, knowing that this virus can only be eliminated if we agree to play our part.

“This call becomes more pertinent as we go fully into the rainy season that ordinarily brings with it cold, catarrh and other COVID-19 mimicking illnesses. Our call to take personal responsibility cannot be more strident than now.”

While recalling the terms of reference given to the committee, Mustapha enumerated some of what he called the modest achievements it has recorded within the period.

He said “there has, no doubt, been some modest achievements, challenges and lessons learned over the past three months. The COVID-19 is certainly the greatest invisible public health emergency that has threatened humanity in modern history.

“As at the last recorded numbers on Wednesday 17th June, 2020, global figures of confirmed cases were 8,408, 203 resulting in 451,463 deaths in 213 countries. Unfortunately, as at the same period, Nigeria accounts for 17,735 and 469 fatalities.”