The Placeof Psychology Duringa Pandemic Lessonsfrom COVID 19in Nigeria (original) (raw)

2021, Nigerian Journal of Psychological Research

government implemented for the pandemic included travel restrictions, lockdown, social distancing enforcement, and face masks in public spaces. To further help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, there were additional restrictions on crowded events and large gatherings (e.g., Church/Mosque services, marriage ceremonies, funerals, etc.). Nigerians were encouraged to stay at home and socially isolate themselves to prevent being infected or infecting others. With time, it became apparent that the above strategies instituted by the Nigerian government and its principal health agency, the NCDC, to promote COVID-19 prevention behaviors among Nigerians were determined by their level of awareness and knowledge regarding the Covid-19 outbreak. The Psychological Aspect of the Pandemic The contributions to this special issue illuminate the different psychological reactions at individual and government levels across select states in the Northern, Southern, Western, and Eastern parts of Nigeria. The authors revealed that at the onset, once it was established in Wuhan, China, and long before the WHO classified COVID-19 as a global pandemic, many Nigerians considered Covid-19 a disease specific to foreign countries or disease of affluence. Due to this, many Nigerians continued with their daily lifestyles and were hesitant to adopt preventive measures to curtail the outbreak, even when the first case of Covid-19 was confirmed in Lagos, Nigeria, on February 20, 2020.