COVID-19: 5G not linked to coronavirus - CDD
As the coronavirus pandemic sweeps across the world, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has dismissed the rising claims and conspiracy theory linking the new 5G network with COVID 19 outbreak.
The Director of the centre, Idayat Hassan, on Sunday in Abuja, noted that Facebook users across the world have continued to share posts claiming that the 5G network and not the coronavirus, is making people sick with many dying from its effect.
According to her, in Nigeria, some prominent Nigerians have linked the 5G network to coronavirus, or a conspiracy they referred to the coming of the New
World Order.
“5G does not cause COVID-19. There are two types of 5G: ‘sub-6 GHz’, whose wavelengths are under 6 GHz, and ‘millimeter wave’, whose frequencies are above 24 GHz. The sub-6 GHz signals are not exclusive to 5G; 4G networks, Wi-Fi and microwaves all operate using sub-6 GHz signals.
“Conspiracy theorists point to the launch of 5G networks around the same time as the discovery of the first case in China as proof of the relationship. However, the 5G China installed is the sub-6 GHz type. In other words, your microwave hasn’t given you coronavirus in all your years of use, neither will 5G networks,” Hassan said.
She added that people should
Airtel Nigeria has announced the donation of toll-free lines and free bulk SMS blasts to each of the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in support of the fight against Coronavirus.
Airtel said the donation would facilitate faster response to citizens across the States as well as help in deepening awareness about safe practices, personal hygiene and other precautionary measures during this critical time.
Commenting on the donation, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, said Airtel has been closely monitoring the situation around the COVID-19 and was committed to not expect any deleterious effects of 5G on health.
According to her, the WHO in a statement on its website, said: “To date, and after much research performed, no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies.”
She noted that the WHO and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) have maintained the virus might have been contracted from animals before its person-to-person spread.
She said, “There is no scientific connection between the introduction or installation of 5G network and the Coronavirus pandemic. No Nigerian network provider is transmitting on the 5G network as the government is yet to issue a licence to any of them to do so. using its resources and technology to helping contain the spread of the deadly virus.
“We are reaching out to governments at all levels as we are committed to leveraging our core competence, technical expertise and digital resources in putting a stop to the spread of the virus. We believe that Nigeria will triumph and surely win the battle against this virus if we all come together to offer our sincere support,” he said.
Airtel recently announced a donation of mobile phones complete with a Closed User Group (CUG) to the Port Health Services, an arm of the Federal Ministry of Health, to support its effort to track and verify passenger information at the country’s local and international airports.