Preparedness and response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at primary healthcare and community level

The emergence and global spread of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) poses a significant threat to public health globally, especially for health systems in low- and middleincome countries. Since the first case was reported in Nigeria on 27 February 2020, the rise in the number of cases has been exponential. Although most of the COVID-19 cases recorded so far have been among travelers returning from COVID-19 reporting-countries to Nigeria, community transmission is imminent, and may have already begun. The ability to effectively respond to public health emergencies such as this is strongly influenced by the extent to which such emergencies have been assessed in advance and prepared for with corresponding prevention and mitigation measures.