How Different People and Countries are Managing Coronavirus COVID-19

Keywords:  corona virus, coronavirus, covid, covid-19
Interview Questions Coronavirus Covid-19
1-Vice Pres Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria
1. You are currently in self-isolation as a result of coronavirus. What can you tell us about the precautions you have taken and about the impact this experience is having on your life as well as on the lives your friends, family and the nation in general?
2. As Vice President, you are second-in-command and thus play a major role in leading and guiding the nation. What is it like to have that responsibility? How do you balance your influence in society with your self-awareness and sense of moral duty to the people of Nigeria?
3. Nigeria faces a number of challenges on the world’s stage in terms of catching up with the leading industrialized nations—and yet it already stands apart from other African nations and is recognized as a leader on the African continent. Where do you see Nigeria heading in the next 10 to 20 years with respect to overcoming challenges and developing as a nation?
4. Obviously there is going to be an economic fallout from the spread of the coronavirus around the world and now through Nigeria. President Trump is eager to get people back to the work in the US to prevent economic collapse. In your eyes, what is the most prudent course of action to take?
5. With talk now of postponing the Olympic Games this summer because of the spread of this virus, all eyes are on Japan. How will a postponement affect Nigeria’s plans for participation and, on a different note, do you think Nigeria may be a candidate to host the Games in the near future?
2-Dr. Amarachukwu Karen Allison, Nigeria
1. You were responsible for raising the alarm bells in Nigeria with respect to finding the first index patient in this country—an Italian man. What was your reaction to that finding and were you surprised at all by what you saw when making that diagnosis?
2. Since finding the first index patient, what steps have you taken to address what is now not just a national concern here in Nigeria but also a global concern all around the world as the coronvirus has truly reached pandemic proportions?
3. Do you believe the country is doing enough to take this virus seriously? For that matter, do you think other nations are doing enough? How possible do you believe it is to exercise containment on a national or even global scale with a virus that seems to spread like wildfire?
4. There are some who feel that the coronavirus is just another form of flu and that the media blows the effects of the virus out of proportion. They feel that people are unnecessarily spreading fear and paranoia. As a medical doctor, what can you say on that topic to contribute to the discussion?
5. In your experience, is Nigeria in a good place with regard to health, hygiene, and the ability to weather this storm? What would be your recommendations for moving forward and helping the community to rally together during this time and work towards the common good?
3-Gov Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Nigeria
1. One of the more drastic steps that nations and states have taken in recent weeks to combat the spread of coronavirus is to go into lockdown mode. In Lagos, you have made that decision to go into lockdown. Was that an easy decision for you to make based on what you have seen from other world leaders?
2. What are your top concerns now that Lagos is in lockdown? Are you worried about the economic ramifications of lockdowns, or the social and political ramifications? What input from others in the community did you seek that helped you to make that decision?
3. Lagos is one of the most exciting destinations in Africa and it seems it is only getting better and better with every passing year. What is it about the spirit and dynamic in Lagos that gives it this special appeal and truly inviting character?
4. Do you think Lagos will play an important role in leading the way to fighting this pandemic as it spreads across Nigeria? How much contact have you had with other leaders throughout the nation and what is perception of their willingness to do what has to be done?
5. Are you concerned about the impact this virus could have on the national character of Nigeria and on the spirit of the people overall? Nigeria is still a growing a nation but it is also a strong nation. Will its strengths or its vulnerabilities win out in the end?
4-Gov Oluwaseyi Makinde, Nigeria
1. You held and have since apologized for hold a People’s Democratic Party mega-rally where some thousand people gathered together even though the existence of the coronavirus threat was known. What were your thoughts initially that led you to go ahead with the rally?
2. In the time that has passed, what has changed in your mind about the spread of this coronavirus and what it might mean for the people of this nation? Are you more or less worried than you were before? Do you feel we are prepared to handle this crisis?
3. Testing is a big issue in identifying carriers of this virus and getting them quarantined to help flatten the curve. Do you think that enough testing is being done or that the means to test in this country are even available at the level they may need to be to ensure an appropriate response?
4. How are you reassuring the average people who may be impacted by measures implemented by government coming down the road? What message do you want to give to the people of Nigeria about the coming days, weeks and possibly months?
5. Safety is obviously an issue that is relative to most people: some are risk takers and some are cautious to the point of paranoia. How do we find the balance, as a nation, when it comes to facing challenges like this current one—challenges that require everyone to come together and work for the common good?
5-Pres Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa
1. While it may not be a very popular or welcome measure for people whose daily lives are impacted, lockdown in South Africa has now come and you have taken the decision to implement this strategy. What is your goal with the lockdown strategy and how will you determine if the goal has been reached?
2. Currently, the lockdown in place is for three weeks, but a recent report has indicated that the virus may survive on surfaces or in asymptomatic people for even longer than three weeks. Is it possible that the lockdown may continue out of an abundance of caution for a month or more?
3. What are the negative ramifications of lockdown and how are you attempting to cope with those ramifications? What steps have you put in place to respond to the fallout that occurs as a result of the decision to go into lockdown mode for all of South Africa?
4. Who were some of the top people you consulted when you made this decision to enter into lockdown and why was their opinion most helpful to you in making this decision? Whose voices did you fail to hear that you wish now that you had also taken into consideration?
5. Other states, cities and nations have gone into lockdown mode just as South Africa has done—yet it is unclear whether this measure can stop the spread or if it merely postpones the inevitable. Do you have any concerns about this and do you have a contingency plan if the virus is not thwarted via the lockdown strategy?
6-Karo Omu, Sanitary Aid Initiative, Nigeria
Advice for mananaing the coronavirus
1. Mainstream media, social media, and alternative media are all responsible for spreading information, both good and bad, true and false, about coronavirus. As a sanitation expert, what advice can you give to everyday Nigerians when it comes to managing the spread of this disease?
2. Social distancing, hand washing, not touching one’s face—these are all good ideas that have been put forward. Do you think it likely that people in Nigeria will follow this advice or do you think there is too little education available now about the importance of hygiene and how germs spread?
3. Increasing health literacy is obviously an important issue that nations around the world are attempting to address. What ways could Nigeria address these issues especially in the light of the present crisis where fears can escalate if not checked with facts and logic?
4. One of the risks of talking about germs and viruses is that it leads people into becoming hypochondriacs. They begin demonstrating an irrational fear of human contact. How do we achieve a balance when it comes to maintaining health and safety while at the same time not overreacting and causing social and psychological harm?
5. In your opinion, is Nigeria doing enough to prepare for and manage the coronavirus pandemic? What states or nations in your mind can we look to as an example of how best to approach this issue, responsibly, morally, and with respect for the common good?
7-Prof Akin Abayomi, Lagos State Commissioner of Health, Nigeria
1. Lagos is a hotspot for tourism, so what extra considerations and precautions are necessary for addressing the coronavirus outbreak in order to ensure visitors are not bringing the virus into Lagos or taking it with them back to their homes when they leave?
2. In your experience as Commissioner of Health, have you ever seen an outbreak like this? All over the world people are panicking and leaders are trying to determine the best course of action. In your opinion, how does the coronavirus outbreak compare to the previous outbreaks the world has seen?
3. How would you rate the manner in which Lagos is currently managing the coronavirus outbreak on a scale of 1 to 10? What have other states and countries done or not done that serve as an example for you on what to do or not do?
4. In your expert opinion, is it possible to say whether lockdown will have a positive impact long term? Or is it more of a hopeful measure that will allow the curve to flatten locally so that health facilities are not overwhelmed the way we have seen happen in Italy and China?
5. Now that the rest of the country is starting to take notice and to react in different ways, there is a lot to think about, medically, socially, politically and economically. If you could deliver one message to the rest of Nigeria, what would it be for the coming weeks and months ahead?
8-Chikwe Ihekweazu, NCDC Nigeria
1. Business is very important to Lagos, obviously, so in terms of the potential economic fallout of managing the coronavirus by implementing a lockdown, what are your top concerns going forward and how are you looking to navigate those concerns?
2. No doubt you have been in contact with local business leaders in Lagos. What issues have they brought up with you about moving forward on managing this outbreak? What dialogue is currently taking place between business and community leaders and the local government?
3. Nations that have delayed their response to the coronavirus seem to have regretted that decision. Lagos on the other hand has acted quickly to implement a preventative strategy. Do you think the rest of Nigeria and perhaps all of Africa should follow suit?
4. Health effects related to the coronavirus are naturally going to be on everyone’s mind. What do you know about the virus and the effects it has on the body that it is important for people to know about? How is infection like for different demographics?
5. What other health concerns should people be paying attention to at this time? Obviously, the coronavirus is the big issue of the day—but now that you have everyone’s attention, perhaps there are other health issues that you would like people to take more seriously so as to afford themselves and their communities better protection in the future?
9-Basketmouth, Comedian, Nigeria
1. We hear all different stories about what this virus does to the body, how it affects the lungs, how you may end up having to breathe with a ventilator. So far, what has been your experience with the virus? What is having coronavirus like for you?
2. How did you find out you were infected? Walk us through that process—what you first noticed, maybe, that made you think you should get tested…what your first thoughts and feelings were upon being told you were diagnosed with this crazy virus that was sweeping around the world.
3. It’s likely impossible to know how someone picks up the virus—it could be anywhere and everywhere at this point. But did you find yourself thinking, oh, maybe I got it from this person or when I was at this place? Did you immediately start calling people you had recently seen to warn them of what you had just found out?
4. What was the test itself like? We’ve heard absolute horror stories about nose swabs where it feels like the swab is going all the way into your brain. I believe it was NBA star Donovan Mitchell who said it was the worst 8-9 seconds of his life. Care to comment on that?
5. How do you think the coronavirus is going to impact you personally in terms of your comedy now that you are in isolation? What is the big challenge for you as a comedian? And in a larger sense how do you think it is going to impact us socially in terms of the affect it has on community and how we think about getting together in groups in the future?
10-Bozoma Saint John, Influencer, US
From the Africa dispora, opinion on what's going on in the US vs Ghana
opinion on how Ghana is managing the outbreak
1. Coronavirus is now all over the world and every country is handling it a little differently, based on their leaders, level of testing being done and so on. As far as you can tell, what is the difference between how the US and how Ghana are handling this outbreak so far?
2. What are the challenges in the US in terms of dealing with the coronavirus outbreak? Obviously there are going to be different levels of challenges—medical challenges, social challenges, personal challenges, political, economic, and so on—but what are the big ones you see?
3. Can you tell us what is going on in Ghana in terms of managing the outbreak? Of course the US is going to receive a lot of attention—but Ghana is not going to be on everyone’s radar, so maybe you could tell us a little about what that country is facing and what the people are going through?
4. As an Influencer, what message are you trying to get out to your followers during this time? Is it a message of strength? A cautionary message? A message of prevention? A message to go get tested immediately? To self-quarantine? To calm down and chill and not to panic unnecessarily? What is your approach?
5. You are obviously in the spotlight so people look to you for information and honesty. Is it hard not always knowing the answers or what the right thing to say is? Do you try to avoid talking about subjects you’re not an expert on or do you feel it’s important to comment even when you don’t have all the information just because it is helpful to engage in that dialogue?
11-John Obi Mikel, Footballer, Turkey, Nigeria
1. Sports all over the world are being cancelled and now even the Olympic Games is being postponed. How does this affect you personally and professionally not knowing what the future holds in store for your sport, for the fans, and for your teammates?
2. What is the big risk that you see for footballers going forward, knowing that this virus is out there and that a vaccine is probably still a year away? How safe can you really expect to be? Or is it something that you try not even to really think about?
3. What information has the club put out to you and the other footballers regarding the coronavirus and what precautions to take? There are likely a lot of things to think about just in terms of making sure everyone is safe while at the same time trying to be mindful of everyone’s needs. What are the challenges here?
4. What message do you think it is important for the fans to hear right now, knowing what they are going through seeing the virus spread around the world and having no sports to follow while they are self-quarantining or are on lock down?
5. What are you hearing from other footballers with regard to this outbreak? Are they ready to play or are they talking about the need for taking precautions and why it is important to wait until this virus runs its course even if it knocks out an entire season?
12-Masai Ujiri, GM Toronto Raptors, Canada, Nigeria
1. You’re from Nigeria but are now living and working in Canada, overseeing the World Champion Toronto Raptors. In your position, what is the number one concern you have for your players considering what we know about this virus and what message are you sending to them?
2. How are you personally coping with this coronavirus outbreak? How has it affected you and your life, maybe changed your habits or the way you go about your day to day affairs?
3. 2020 has been a bad year so far for the NBA and for fans of the game. First, the world lost a living legend in Kobe Bryant—and now it looks like the season may come to a premature end. What are your thoughts on weathering crises like these?
4. Obviously, Canada and Nigeria are very different countries—so what is your perspective on how they are both handling this crisis and what both could perhaps be doing to make sure everyone is safe?
5. One thing I know all fans of the game are going to want to know is: are you and the rest of the Raptors chomping at the bit to get back on the floor to defend your title?