Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has directed that all government and private schools in the state be shut down until further notice.

The governor said the measure was crucial to public health safety amid the increasing COVID-19 cases recorded in all local government areas in the state.

This forms part of the public health directives issued by the governor on Friday, as the state government prepares for a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, over the surge in COVID-19 cases.

He also directed all public servants from Grade Level 14 and below, except emergency workers and first responders, to work from home for the next 14 days starting from Monday next week – in the first instance.

Sanwo-Olu in a statement today, titled, ‘We Cannot Afford To Relax The Battle Against Covid-19’, said, “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.

There has been increase in COVID-19 cases across the country. On Thursday, Nigeria recorded over 1,000 new cases of the disease, out of which Lagos had 450 infections.

Exerpts from the governor’s message read:

“The data we have – we strive to ensure that our decisions are as data-driven as possible – does not warrant the introduction of a drastic lockdown; we can achieve a lot simply by modifying our behavior in other ways: reducing the size of gatherings, complying with containment protocols, and applying common sense.

“The Lagos State Government is now sounding a clear note of caution to all residents on the importance of maintaining the guidelines that we have put in place to protect us from the ravages of COVID-19. We cannot afford a reversal of the gains we have made against this pandemic.

“For the avoidance of doubt, 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 (www.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 hand washing units are to be positioned at the entry point and various spots 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, which is mandatory.

•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.

We will continue to closely watch the profile of the unfolding situation, while also awaiting updates and pronouncements from the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. We will also keep working with the Presidential Task Force to ensure that the gains of the recent past are not frittered away on the altar of festivities and sheer carelessness. The lives of ALL Lagosians, including our elders and other vulnerable citizens, matter.

May I remind you of the importance of maintaining the principles of non-pharmaceutical interventions and measures that are well documented strategies for interrupting the spread of the disease in our society. These measures are:

•Social distancing, a minimum of 2 meters apart.
•The wearing of face masks at all times in public places.

•Maintenance of personal and respiratory hygiene – regular handwashing / sanitizing, coughing or sneezing into a tissue and properly disposing.

•Presentation for testing at our numerous public and private testing facilities if you experience any of the COVID-19 symptoms.

•Isolation either at home or in any of our Treatment Centres if diagnosed positive for:
COVID-19.

These measures represent the only way to keep the curve flattened and prevent a full-blown second wave from developing in Lagos.