Category: Covid-19

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The Federal Government restricted gatherings at worship centres and banned night clubs as parts of measures aimed at preventing the spread of devastating strains of COVID-19 into the country.

Amid concern about the strains of the virus in India, South Africa, Turkey and Brazil, the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 at its press briefing in Abuja reintroduced some measures which were put in place during the second COVID-19 wave in the country.

Eminent virologist and Chairman, Expert Review Committee on COVID-19, Professor Oyewale Tomori, and a virologist at the University of Ibadan, Prof David Olaleye, in separate interviews with newsmen supported government’s actions.

They warned Nigerians that India’s COVID-19 crisis was an indication that there could be a resurgence of the virus in Nigeria.

Recall that the World Health Organisation Regional Virologist, Dr Nicksy Gumede-Moeletsi, in an interview with newsmen, said B.1.351 variant of the coronavirus, first found in South Africa, was spreading in 23 African countries.

To prevent a similar occurrence in Nigeria, the National Incident Manager, Mukhtar Mohammed, who rolled out preventive measures , said a nationwide curfew would be introduced from midnight of Monday.

He said the curfew would run from 12 midnight till 4am daily.

He also said gatherings for worship or weddings should not be more than 50 per cent capacity.

He said security agents had been saddled with the responsibility of enforcing all the non-pharmaceutical measures put in place by the government.

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In an announcement , the NYSC Director-General, Brig Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim, stated that the administration of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is currently ongoing at the NYSC secretariats nationwide.

“In line with Management’s directive, adequate arrangement was made with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency for the successful administration of COVID-19 vaccine on corps members. The exercise is successfully ongoing at the NYSC Secretariats in the country. Members of staff were also not left behind.

“We sincerely appreciate the Presidential Steering Committee, National Primary Health Care Development Agency for the concern for the welfare of corps members,” the DG had said.

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The committee’s chairman, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this in a statement titled ‘Travel advisory for passengers arriving Nigeria from Brazil, India and Turkey.’

According to the statement, the travel advisory shall take effect from Tuesday while it shall be subjected to review after an initial period of four weeks.

The guidelines read in part, “Non-Nigerian passport holders and non-residents who visited Brazil, India or Turkey within days preceding travel to Nigeria, shall be denied entry into Nigeria.

“This regulation, however, does not apply to passengers who transited through these countries.

“The following measures shall apply to airlines and passengers who fail to comply with I and II(a) above: airlines shall mandatorily pay a penalty of $3,500 for each defaulting passenger.

“Non-Nigerians will be denied entry and returned to the country of embarkation at cost to the airline.

“Nigerians and those with permanent resident permit who visited Brazil, India or Turkey within 14 days preceding travel to Nigeria shall be made to undergo seven days of mandatory quarantine in a government approved facility at the point-of-entry .

“The following condition shall apply to such passengers: Within 24 hours of arrival shall take a COVID-19 PCR test.

“If positive, the passenger shall be admitted within a government-approved treatment centre, in line with national treatment protocols.

“If negative, the passenger shall continue to remain in quarantine and made to undergo a repeat PCR test on day 7 of their quarantine.”

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This was contained in a press statement titled ‘Lagos State Government eases restrictions on social and event centres’.

The statement was signed by Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile Yusuff, and the Director-General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola.

“The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, after due consultation and deliberations with relevant stakeholders and MDA’s including The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and Lagos State Safety Commission has approved the further easing of social centres across the State with immediate effect,” it added.

Meanwhile, Akinbile-Yusuff and Mojola have issued new guidelines for social/event facilities reopening.

While stating that COVID-19 protocols must be complied with, the officials said that “any violation of this protocol shall attract fines and penalties in line with the Lagos State Infectious Diseases Control Regulation 2020”.

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French President Emmanuel Macron announced that French schools would close next week and a limited lockdown in place in Paris and other regions would be extended to the whole country to battle soaring Covid-19 cases.

Macron said in an address to the nation that the current efforts to limit the virus “were too limited at a time when the epidemic is accelerating”. The spread of the so-called British variant meant “we risk losing control”.

He said that schools would close from Monday for the next three weeks, but this would include two weeks of spring holiday.

From Saturday night and for the next four weeks, travel restrictions will be imposed across the whole country and non-essential shops will close in line with measures already implemented in Covid-19 hotspots such as Paris, he said.

But striking a more optimistic tone for the medium term, he said some cultural venues and cafe terraces would reopen in mid-May “under strict rules” and a calendar drawn up for a progressive reopening of other facilities.

“Thanks to the vaccine, the way out of the crisis is emerging,” he said.

He also announced that the vaccine drive would be open to all those over 60 from April 16 and those over 50 from May 15.

The Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 has said it won’ t hesitate to shut down schools in the country should there be a spike in COVID- 19 cases recorded in Nigeria.

PTF National Incident Manager , Mukhtar Muhammed, stated this in a video posted on Twitter by the PTF .

Muhammed said , “ The issue of school reopening is something that the PTF has discussed very extensively . The ministry of education decided to open the schools . Based on our own understanding , it was the states that actually wanted to have the schools reopened .

“ Now , the PTF is watching this very closely , we are monitoring what is going on and if we find out that cases continue to rise in the country and we start to have incidences in schools , certainly, we will have the schools closed .

“ In the first instance , we should have delayed opening of the schools but now that the schools are opened, the PTF will continue to monitor very closely with all the schools to ensure that they institute measures and ensure that people follow as much as possible . ”

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Osun State Government has announced a daily dusk -to – dawn curfew from 10 : 00 pm till 5 : 00 am and banned until further notice vigils and crusades.

The directives were contained in a new set of guidelines to enforce non -pharmaceutical safety protocols against coronavirus signed by the Secretary to State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji .

The government explained that spike in the number of people who have tested positive for Covid – 19 in the state had made it necessary for introduction of measures to protect the residents.

In the new guidelines, the government also banned social events unless with approval from the state , adding that even with the approval, no gathering should have more than 50 participants .

The guidelines further read in parts , “ No religious gatherings should exceed two hours per time of gathering . Vigils and crusades are banned till further notice . Religious organisations should operate at only 30 percent capacity of their space .

“ Parents and guardians should continue to ensure their children and wards comply with the safety protocols against Covid – 19 , especially the use of nose mask / face shield and regular washing of their hands . Children must also be cautioned against unsafe practices such as shaking hands, hugging , sharing of materials and personal effects, visiting crowded spaces , etc.

“ No motorcycle can carry more than two people, including the rider . No mini – bus (korope ) can carry more than five people, including the driver .

“ Only civil servants from Level 12 and above are expected to report physically at their offices. Officers below Level 12 are expected to work from home with effect from Monday , January 25 th , till further notice . Teachers , health workers , and other workers on essential services , irrespective of Grade , are exempted . “ No face mask , no entry” policy must be enforced in all government offices.

“ Eateries , restaurants , joints, and bars should operate at 50 percent capacity and ensure adequate physical distancing of customers . Every vendor or seller must ensure that he /she uses a face mask at all times . Malls , stores , and supermarkets must also enforce the use of face masks, and also organise customers in ways that allow social distancing .

“ There will be a dusk to dawn curfew every day from 10 : 00 pm till 5 : 00 am . Enforcement teams have been set up in every Local Government and Area Office across the State , to ensure strict enforcement of the protocols. ”

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Governors of the 36 States of the Federation will be holding their 23 rd virtual meeting to address the rising cases of COVID- 19 infections and work out an appropriate response .

The meeting which is scheduled to hold virtually on Wednesday is expected to provide a platform for the governors to deliberate and agree on practical steps to contain further spread of the disease .

This was contained in a press statement signed by the Head, Media and Public Affairs of the NGF , Abdulrazaque Bello- Barkindo , in Abuja .

The statement read in part, “Alarmed by the intensity of the second wave of the Covid 19 pandemic , and Nigeria ’ s tardy commencement of inoculation that is sweeping through countries globally , the 36 governors of the federation may finally come up with a definitive pronouncement , as they will be meeting to find the way forward for the country.

“ The meeting which will be the first this year, 2021 , by the governors , will, as usual , be virtual , in conformity with the Covid – 19 protocols. It is the 23 rd of the Nigeria Governors ’ Forum teleconferences . The meeting commences 2 . 00 pm prompt but Governors are expected to start logging on fat 1 . 00 pm .

“ The Governors ’ PTF Committee , headed by Delta State Governor , Dr Ifeanyi Okowa , which is charged with the responsibility of liaising between the Presidential Task Force on Covid – 19 and the Governors ’ Forum , will brief the Forum on what it needs to know on the vaccines and the way forward . ”
The statement further read , “ Governors will also be updated on the States ’ Fiscal Transparency , Accountability and Sustainability program for results for the preceding year , 2020 .

“ As is customary, if time permits, there will be three presentations ; The Water Resources minister will brief Governors on its World Bank Support; feedback from the Federal Government on the Medium and Long Term National Development Agenda ; and enhancing IGR through a harmonized Traffic Management System by Dimensions Information Technology , LLC, a non – governmental actor which is seeking the nod of state governors . “

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The Ekiti State Government has imposed a curfew from 8 pm to 6 am in the state .

The government also banned all gatherings of more than 20 people in the state until further notice .

The restrictions take effect from Monday , January 11 , 2021 .

An expert mission to China to find the origins of the coronavirus pandemic stumbled before it even began , with the head of the World Health Organisation complaining that Beijing was blocking the team from entering the country.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was “ very disappointed” with the last – minute bar on entry , in a rare castigation of Beijing from the UN body .

A 10 – strong team was due to arrive in China this week after months of painstaking negotiations .

Beijing is determined to control the origin story of the virus , which has killed more than 1 . 8 million people so far and laid waste to global economies .

The first cases of the coronavirus were recorded in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019 , prompting accusations of chaotic, secretive handling by Chinese authorities which led to its spread beyond China .

US President Donald Trump called the pandemic the “China virus ”.

But Beijing has so far resisted pressure for a full independent probe into the early days of the outbreak . Instead , it has seeded doubt as to whether the pandemic even started inside its borders .

The WHO mission was billed as a way to cut through the rancour and seek clear answers on how the virus jumped from animals to humans .

But with some of the team already in transit , Beijing had yet to grant them entry, the WHO chief said .

“ Today , we learned that Chinese officials have not yet finalised the necessary permissions for the team’ s arrivals in China , ” Tedros told reporters .

“ I am very disappointed with this news, given that two members had already begun their journeys and others were not able to travel at the last minute . ”

He stressed that he had been in contact with senior Chinese officials to make clear “ that the mission is a priority for WHO and the international team” .

“ I have been assured that China is speeding up the internal procedure for the earliest possible deployment, ” Tedros added .

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