States take tough stance amid COVID-19 spike
States have taken strong steps to ward off the resurgence of COVID-19, whose second wave has now spread to Nigeria.
The country recorded 2,875 positive cases between Thursday and Saturday. Eighteen deaths were recorded.
Apart from the remewed enforcement of the COVID-19 protocols, Lagos, Imo and Kaduna states have asked civil servants to work from home from today, “to save them from COVID-19.”
Ebonyi State has restricted worship services to only two hours. In Kaduna, services are for a maximum one hour.
The Christmas Carol at the Aso Rock Villa was held virtually at the weekend.
While Grade 14 and below workers in Lagos State are to stay away as from today for the next 14 days – in the first instance, Kaduna public servants are subject to directives or summons by their supervisors, who may require their presence.
Lagos State Incident Commander and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the state had started witnessing a rise in the number of people testing positive for coronavirus.
Sanwo-Olu said: “As you are all aware, Lagos State is recording an increase in COVID-19 cases in all local governments. This is not peculiar to Lagos alone; the entire country is also seeing an uptick in the numbers of confirmed cases of the Coronavirus disease.
“Of every 100 tests that we now perform, an average of 10 turn out to be positive. This is an increase from the five per hundred recorded in September, but lower than our peak in August, which was between 20 and 30 per hundred. This suggests the existence of active community transmission and represents the very likely possibility of the emergence of a second wave in Lagos State.”
The state government has also rolled fresh directives to contain the observed spike, including shutting down all schools with immediate effect until further notice and banning concerts, carnivals and street parties until further notice.
“Night Clubs have not been allowed to open yet. All Night Clubs in Lagos must immediately shut down, until further notice.”
The governor imposed a curfew from midnight to 4a.m. as imposed by the Federal Government
He added: “The protocol of ‘No Mask No Entry’ must be enforced by all public places: Offices, Businesses, Markets, Shops, and so on, and all places of worship (churches, mosques, etc.) must ensure that no gathering exceeds two hours, and also that no gathering exceeds 50% of the maximum capacity of the venue.”
Sanwo-Olu said further directed that all event planners must obtain prior clearance from the Lagos State Safety Commission (www.lasgsafetyreg.com) for all events, and ensure that any planned gathering does not exceed 300 people.
He stressed: “Where the capacity of a venue exceeds 300 and permission has been granted, the occupancy shall not be more than 50% of such a venue.
“Ample ventilation must also be maintained at all times in all venues and deep-cleaning of the premises must be carried out before and after every event.
“A minimum of two meters’ distance should be maintained between seated or standing guests and all guests and service providers at events must wear nose masks/coverings before entry.
Kaduna State, in a statement by Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, said the Head of Service will issue service-wide updates as required.
Adekeye explained that Governor Nasir El-Rufai has signed and authorised new regulations to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the state with effect from Monday.
According to him, ‘’it is mandatory to wear facemasks outside the house. Organisations and individuals that allow people into their premises have the responsibility to enforce the ‘no mask, no entry mandate.’ Facemasks should be worn to cover both the nose and mouth.’’
The statement said large gatherings are prohibited and mandated that “businesses must provide thermometers for temperature checks, and sanitisers or hand-washing equipment and physical distancing measures within all facilities.
“Places of worship must enforce facemasks, provide sanitisers and ensure physical distancing. The number of worshippers will be capped. Congregational worship should not exceed one hour.’’
Uzodimma shuts Imo Secretariat
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma ordered the closure of the secretariat effective today
In a broadcast, he outlined the dangers of the fresh spike in COVID-19 pandemic, and directed that government workers, except permanent secretaries and political appointees, should stay away from office till further notice.
The governor said the wearing of face masks has become critical and compulsory for every Imo indigene as mobile courts have been directed to arrest and prosecute anyone found without wearing a face mask.
The governor directed that no social gathering in Imo State during this Christmas should have more than 100 persons in attendance just as the attendees must observe social distancing and all the Covid-19 safety protocols.
Markets and public places, the governor noted, must also put in place washing hand facilities, sanitizers and other Covid-19 pandemic safety measures as recommended by the Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC).
Ebonyi restricts religious gathering
In Ebonyi, the government has directed that all religious gatherings must be restricted to a maximum period of two hours.
Governor David Umahi, who announced this in a broadcast, said the decision followed the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic
He noted that all large gathering are also banned
Umahi said the state is targeting 450 tests per local government in the next one month.
He directed Deputy Governor Kelechi Igwe and the state COVID 19 team to ensure massive sensitization and public enlightenment c
“We must go back to observe all the protocols of Covid 19 enunciated by the Presidential Taskforce. I have directed that church services should not last more than 2 hours. I have also directed that we should step up our testing before the end of January”.
“During this Christmas, I am appealing that we curtail our movements. The initial night of praise will no longer hold in the state. The usual end of year party will not hold. Rather, we are not aggregated so that we have smaller gathering that we can control”, he said.
Lockdown not in view in Osun
The Osun State Government has said it is not proposing another lockdown to curb the spread of the virus.
The government advocated the use of facemasks and adherence to all COVID-19 safety protocols.
Health Commissioner Dr. Rafiu Isamotu said government will ban carnival activities to curb the spread of the virus.
He noted that sensitisation is on-going, adding: “We never closed any of our isolation centres; we are treating patients. We are meeting the market women and other stakeholders to embrace the safety protocols. We have commenced public enlightenment and sensitisation advocacy
“We urge our people to use their facemasks as we have never stopped the enforcement of COVID-19 safety protocols. We are going to ban carnival activities across the state. We are not proposing lockdown since our people are adhering to use of facemasks and others,” the commissioner said.
The Nation
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