Escapades of Sex Workers amidst Lockdown: An Untold Navigation Pathway for SARS-CoV-2 Community Transmission in Nigeria

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type- 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in Wuhan; China, late 2019 causing the disease named COVID-19. Safety measures against SARS-CoV-2 comprised: hand washing with soap and running water, use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer, face masking, social distancing and lockdown to avoid SARS-CoV-2 infection. Regrettably, these measures are not in tandem to preventing community transmission orchestrated by sex workers as the rules remain jettisoned due to escapades amid lockdown. Many countries continue to undermined or not considering the navigation pathways from sex workers as a means of community transmission of the virus. In the battle against COVID-19, sex working is viewed as one of the factors that may enhance community transmission inadvertently. AIM: This study aimed at creating awareness of the navigation pathways vis-à-vis the untold havoc constituted by sex worker’s activities amidst lockdown, which may enhance the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although, sexual route has not been fully defined for SARS-CoV-2 transmission; however, social distancing (physical contact) has been defied in the act as it amounts to full body contacts with unsuspecting clients. METHODS: Google search engine was used in surfing for relevant literatures describing the keywords. RESULTS: Espoused articles suggest that unchecked activities of sex workers may lead to community-based transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is extremely worrisome that governmental agencies responsible for enforcing lockdown do not take brothels into cognizance as possible unimaginable routes of exposure of person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2; while the implications of patronizing sex workers during lockdown remains enormous. CONCLUSION: Despite government measures to curb further spread of SARS-CoV-2, sex working asides political gatherings and migrations may continue to jettison the move. Hence, government agencies should particularly investigate brothels including screening to prevent possible spread from the circle.