Lagos Shuts Down All Schools, Imposes New Restrictions As COVID-19 Cases Rises Again

Lagos State Government has directed that all public and private schools in the state must shut down immediately until further notice.

This was contained in a fresh directive issued by the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, following the resurgence of coronavirus cases in Lagos.

In a press statement on Friday, Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagosians are going about in reckless disregard of COVID-19 safety protocols, an act that can jeopardise the health of the citizenry.

He noted that ”there is an unfortunate public perception that the state has seen the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is wrong and dangerous.”

“We are getting credible reports that the entertainment industry is planning large gatherings, concerts, street parties and carnivals, in the spirit of the Yuletide.

“Night Clubs have also re-opened in reckless disregard of the existing guidelines, and Events Centers are operating with huge gatherings without any regard for public health and safety guidelines.

“This same disregard for Coronavirus guidelines is also being observed with Places of Worship across the State, in both their regular gatherings and the special gatherings organized to commemorate this Season,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu, who tested positive to COVID-19 last week, said the second wave of COVID-19 ”calls for a full re-awakening of caution and precaution.”

According to him, the following measures must be noted and complied with:

• All public servants from GL 14 and below, except emergency workers and first responders, are to work from home as from Monday, December 21st for the next 14 days – in the first instance.
• All schools must shut down with immediate effect, and until further notice.
• Concerts, carnivals and street parties are banned in Lagos State 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 midnight to 4am curfew imposed by the Federal Government remains in place.
• The protocol of ‘No Mask No Entry’ must be enforced by all public places: Offices, Businesses, Markets, Shops, and so on.

• 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.
• All Event Planners must obtain prior clearance from the Lagos State Safety Commission (http://lasgsafetyreg.com) for all events, and ensure that any planned gatherings do not exceed 300 people.
• 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 2 meters’ distance should be maintained between seated or standing guests.

• All guests and service providers at events MUST wear nose masks/coverings before entry.
• Hand sanitizers or handwashing units are to be positioned at the entry point and within the hall. Provision must be made for all guests and service providers to wash their hands before entering the venue or use hand sanitizers, as well as undergo a temperature check.
• Guests and service providers with high temperature (above 37.5) are to be politely turned back and referred to paramedics or the emergency response team that must be present.
• Health, Safety and Environment Officers must be present at all public gatherings (Religious or Social) and must be trained in basic first aid procedures.
• All Events’ Staff must also be educated on recognising COVID-19 symptoms.

• The Safety Commission has been directed to visit Event Centres and gauge compliance with the established guidelines, to stop the virus from spreading. If there is evidence of lack of compliance at any Event Centre, it will be shut down immediately.
• Security agents have been mandated to ensure full enforcement, without exception. No one will be deemed to be above the law.
• Any and all breaches of these regulations and public health protocols will lead to immediate closure as well as attract heavy fines, and any other sanctions and penalties deemed fit, in line with the Lagos State Infectious Diseases Control Regulation 2020.
• Event Centre Owners/Planners/Vendors will be responsible for any breach of protocols by their Staff.

The governor encouraged citizens to wear face masks at all times, properly wash or sanitiae their hands and practice physical distancing.

This is coming after the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 revealed that Nigeria had entered a second wave of coronavirus infections.