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Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu of Lagos State says worship centres in the state will be allowed to reopen , according to reports .

The governor stated this during a briefing at the Government House, Marina .

He said mosques are to reopen from June 19 while churches are to begin services from June 21 .

He said hotels are allowed to reopen while gyms, night clubs , and cinemas would still remain closed , adding that the decision to reopen them would be reviewed in the next two weeks .

Sanwo- Olu said , “ There will now be restricted openings of religious houses based on compliance that we have seen and reviewed with the Safety Commission .

“ From 14 days time , precisely on the 19 th of June for our Muslim worshippers and from the 21 st of June for our Christian worshippers , we will be allowing all of our religious bodies to open at a maximum of 40 % of their capacity and we ’ ll be working with them as being expected by the Lagos State Safety Commission .

“ But we know that these places of worship have different sizes but even if your 40 % capacity is really so large , you cannot have beyond 500 worshippers at once , and keeping that maximum 40 % capacity is really important.

“ We will be encouraging people to have more than one service and ensure that they keep their premises clean, disinfect before another round of worship can take place .

“ We will also be advising that there should only be mandatory Fridays and Sunday services. All other night vigils and services must be put on hold for now until we review our current situation.

“ We will also be advising very strongly that persons below the age of 15 because of how well they walk around and difficult to hold down should be excused from the places of worship and citizens that are above the age of 65 should not be allowed into these places of worship .

“ We will also advise that there should be no food sharing and communion from a common dish should be discouraged during this period .

Punch

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that clinical trials of the drug hydroxychloroquine will resume as it searches for potential coronavirus treatments.

On May 25, the WHO announced it had temporarily suspended the trials to conduct a safety review, which has now concluded there is “no reason” to change the way the trials are conducted.

The UN health agency’s decision came after a study published in The Lancet medical journal suggesting the drug could increase the risk of death among COVID-19 patients.

The executive group of the so-called Solidarity Trial — in which hundreds of hospitals across the world have enrolled patients to test several possible treatments for the novel coronavirus — took the decision as a precaution.

Hydroxychloroquine is normally used to treat arthritis but public figures including US President Donald Trump have backed the drug for COVID-19 prevention and treatment, prompting governments to bulk-buy.

“Last week, the executive group of the Solidarity Trial decided to implement a temporary pause of the hydroxychloroquine arm of the trial, because of concerns raised about the safety of the drug,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual news briefing.

“This decision was taken as a precaution while the safety data were reviewed.

“The data safety and monitoring committee of the Solidarity Trial has been reviewing the data.

“On the basis of the available mortality data, the members of the committee recommended that there are no reasons to modify the trial protocol.

“The executive group received this recommendation and endorsed continuation of all arms of the Solidarity Trial, including hydroxychloroquine.

“The executive group will communicate with the principal investigators in the trial about resuming the hydroxychloroquine arm of the trial.

“The data safety and monitoring committee will continue to closely monitor the safety of all therapeutics being tested in the Solidarity Trial.”

More than 3,500 patients have been recruited across 35 countries to take part in the trials.

AFP

Residents of Fagba community, in the Ifako Ijaiye area of Lagos State , have lost their peace over the activities of pipeline vandals in the area .

The alleged connivance of security officials had also unsettled many landlords , who now fear for their lives .

Newsmen gathered that last Sunday , some vandals broke into the mechanic village on Providence Avenue and siphoned fuel from the pipeline of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation .

They were reported to have bound a local vigilante and bundled him into the back of a sports utility vehicle they brought for the operation .

The men, who loaded no fewer than four tankers of 33 , 000 litres , were said to have operated without any challenge from the security agencies .

Done , they released the guard and left the area without a trace.

At the rate of N 125 per litre, the pump price fuel was being sold at the time , a 33 , 000 litre tanker would cost N4 , 125 , 000 . The four tankers would therefore cost N16 . 5 m .

Findings by news correspondent revealed that some members of the group had visited the site a few days earlier to prepare for the operation .

A resident , who spoke on condition of anonymity , said the vandals dug a hole at the point where they intended to siphon the fuel.

“ A guard on the adjoining street saw them digging in the wee hours of the night and flashed a torch in their direction . He asked what they were doing and they told him not to bother himself because they worked for some powerful people.

“ The guard said towards the end of his chat with them, they asked for his phone number and account details , that they could send something to him as well. A gate separated him from those people , so they did not have contact , ” he said .

A former executive member of the mechanic union told newsmen that when he arrived at the workshop in the morning , he noticed the hole around the pipeline.

He said he quickly mobilised other mechanics to tow a van to the spot , to frustrate the plot of the vandals .

“ We removed the four tyres of the vehicle we towed to the spot . We also alerted the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps officer in charge of Ifako Ijaiye , Mrs. Osho; and one Mr Dare , who works with a private company guarding the pipeline. They usually patrol the area. They both said there was no problem , ” the source added .

Punch

The Federal Government says artisans can go about their normal businesses but prohibits street trading and hawking , newsmen reports .

The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 , Sani Aliyu , stated this while announcing new guidelines for the second phase of the eased lockdown during a briefing in Abuja .

He said , “ In terms of general movements, persons may go out for work, go out to buy necessary foods and for exercise , provided they abide by the curfew hours. Movement between local government areas is strongly discouraged unless for critical reasons such as health care and work .

“ I will like to emphasise that it is still safer to stay at home and avoid crowds . The pandemic is not over in this country and the relaxation of some of the rules does not mean that it is safer to go out. If you do not need to go out , please continue to stay at home .

“ Hawking and street trading is also prohibited and we will be looking into this in greater detail with state authorities . ”

“ With interstate travels , movement across state boundaries remains restricted other than the free movement of goods and essential travels . Security services are requested to please cooperate with members of the public and ensure that goods are provided with free passage , as this particular phase is directed at ensuring the economy starts moving again .

“ With intrastate travel, we will implement new travel processes for areas of the country with high – burden local government areas , and this will be restricted to essential travels . ”

The task force coordinator listed the new guidelines for reopening of offices in the public and private sectors .

He said , “ For the industry and labour sectors , in terms of working hours , normal working hours will apply to offices other than government offices, provided this is kept within ( outside ) the curfew hours of 10 pm to 4 am . Offices are to maintain working at 75 per cent capacity while maintaining the two – metre physical distancing .

“ For government offices , they can open between the hours of 9 am and 2 pm . So , no changes in opening hours but can work from Monday to Friday. Prior to this , we allowed three working days. However , all persons within the Grade Levels of 14 and above at both the federal and state governments will be allowed to come to work. ”

Punch

The Federal Government has said banks in the country could resume ‘ normal working hours ’ , effective June 2 , according reports .

The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 , Sani Aliyu , stated this during a briefing in Abuja .

He said , “ Effective from Tuesday , June 2 , the easing of the lockdown will be characterise by the following :

“ There will be full opening of the financial sector with banks now allowed to operate normal working hours five days a week . ”

Punch

The Federal Government says the timing for nationwide curfew is now 10 pm to 4 am , according to reports .

The National Coordinator of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID- 19 , Dr Sani Aliyu , made this known .

Aliyu , who spoke at the daily briefing of the task force in Abuja , said the new timing takes effect from tomorrow (Tuesday ).

He said , “Effective from tomorrow , Tuesday , June 2 , 2020 , the easing of the lockdown will be characterised by the following : the nationwide curfew will remain in place but the timing of this will be reduced to 10 pm to 4 am .

“ And just to clarify , the purpose of the curfew is to limit social interactions and , therefore , reduce the risk of transmission of the virus . ”

Punch

The Federal Government has asked the aviation sector to begin to develop protocols that will lead to the resumption of domestic flights any time from June 21 , according to reports .

The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 , Sani Aliyu , stated this during a briefing Abuja .

He said , “ The aviation industry is requested to start developing protocols to allow for domestic flights to resume anytime from the 21 st of June onwards .

“ Airlines must ensure physical distancing by reducing passenger capacity and ensure the provision of sanitisers and personal protective equipment as well as carrying out temperature checks at the point of entry and departure and ensuring that airports are not congested by either travellers or airports staff . ”

The Federal Government has said that schools would remain closed “ for now ”, according to reports .

The Presidential Taskforce on COVID- 19 made this known during its daily briefing .

While giving an update on the PTF announcement, the Personal Assistant on New Media to @ MBuhari, Bashir Ahmad , tweeted, “For now , all the schools are to remain closed , the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 announces the directive .

“ The Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 has requested the Aviation Industry to start developing protocols for domestic flights to possibly resume from June 21 .

“ The interstate travel remains prohibited except for goods and essential travel , the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 announces . ”

Punch

The Federal Government has announced the relaxation of the restriction placed on places of worship as part of measures to curtail the spread of COVID- 19 .

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 , Boss Mustapha , announced this during the daily briefing of the panel .

Mustapha , who is also the Secretary to Government of the Federation, said the ban on inter – state travel is still in place.

He said , “ There is a ban on gatherings of more than 20 people outside of a workplace.

“ Relaxation of restriction on places of worship based on guidelines issued by the PTF and protocols agreed by state governments .

“ Managed access to markets and locations of economic activity to limit the risk of transmission ;

“ Ban on inter – state travels except for the movement of agricultural produce , petroleum products , manufactured goods , and essential services;

“ Mandatory use of non – medical face masks in public places ;

“ Mandatory provision of handwashing facilities /sanitisers in all public places . ”

Punch

The Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 on Sunday met with the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , and discussed the next phase of reopening of sectors in the country.

The PTF Chairman , Boss Mustapha , said one of the recommendations submitted to Buhari was that Nigeria would enter the second phase of the battle against the pandemic.

Mustapha , while briefing journalists after the meeting at the Presidential Villa , said the task force had made recommendations to the President .

According to him , states should now manage the pandemic , with coordination by the Federal Government.

Mustapha , while responding to a question on states reopening worship centres , said the issue was discussed at the meeting .

He said , “ That is part of what we have considered in its totality . We await Mr President ’ s decision on that . Once I receive his approval, going forward , as to certain recommendations that we have put in place, we will see how that happens .

“ I can assure you of one thing : the ownership of the next phase will be the responsibility of the states under national supervision and coordination, because we have gone into community transmission . Where are the communities ? The communities are in the states .

“ So , the ownership of the next phase will be that of the states , the local governments , the traditional institutions, the religious leaders at the different levels of our communities . That is where the problem is . ”

The SGF also said the PTF had reviewed the issues of places of worship , schools , and businesses , saying “ we have made the appropriate recommendations . ”

He added , “ But you know that Mr President is the only one that can take decisions in respect of that . In the framework , the states are sub -nationals ; they have their own responsibilities too . So , it is in the exercise of those responsibilities that they met with religious bodies and agreed on the protocols and guidelines on how to open up . But in the framework of the national response , we are taking that into consideration . ”

When asked if the economy would be opened soon, the PTF chairman said , “ After we receive the approval of Mr President tonight or tomorrow ( Monday ) morning , we will now know which ( other ) segment of the economy is allowed to open . ”

Punch