Saturday,
December 19, 2020 /10:02 AM / By Lagos State Government/ Header
Image Credit: @followlasg
...Says Lagos Cannot Afford To Relax
Battle Against Coronavirus
...Governor Directs Civil Servants From
Grade Level 14 Below To Work From Home
Following the second wave of COVID-19 in Nigeria and
increase in number of coronavirus cases in Lagos State, Governor Babajide
Sanwo-Olu has banned carnivals, concerts and street parties in the State until
further notice.
The Governor also returned the order restricting the
operations of churches and mosques in the State, adding that no gathering must
exceed 50 per cent of the maximum capacity of the venue.
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 next week Monday in the first instance.
Governor Sanwo-Olu in a personal letter to Lagosians
issued on Friday after a virtual Executive Council meeting on issues around the
resurgence of COVID-19 and how to tackle it said Lagos State cannot afford to
relax the battle against COVID-19 and therefore appealed that it should be
tackled as serious matter.
Speaking about the present state of his health,
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who tested positive to COVID-19 last week, said "Regarding
my health, I am glad to inform you that I am getting better by the day, and all
will surely be well. I thank Lagosians for their prayers and overwhelming kind
thoughts. I am, indeed, very grateful."
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who advised Lagosians to use the
festive season to spend quality time in small but controlled gatherings with
family and friends in the spirit of the season, warned that the State
Government will not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law to bear on any
person or organisation caught breaching public health regulations and protocols
with regards to the Coronavirus disease.
He said: "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.
"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. Hand
sanitizers or hand washing units are to be positioned at the entry point and
various spots.
Governor Sanwo-Olu stressed further that: "All places
of worship (Churches, Mosques, etc.) must ensure that no gathering exceeds two
hours and also that no gathering exceeds 50 per cent of the maximum capacity of
the venue.
"Health, Safety and Environment Officers must be
present at all public gatherings (religious or social) and must be trained in
basic first aid procedures.
"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."
Governor Sanwo-Olu while advising Lagosians to step up
the battle against COVID-19, especially during the festival seasons, said: "Christmas is a commemoration of this supreme act of sacrifice by God. The
least we can do in this Season is to emulate that spirit of sacrifice, by
abiding with difficult but necessary protective guidelines, for the greater
good of all of us.
"This is certainly not the time to lower our guard
against the Coronavirus; it is instead time to step up our battle against this
stubborn virus that has gripped the world for several months now."
"Dear Lagosians, you will all agree with me that we
cannot afford another lockdown of the economy. Amidst an economic recession we
must find a way to delicately balance the imperatives of life and livelihood.
With this in mind, the only solution available to us is to take responsibility
for all our actions, and to understand that we must stay safe not only for
ourselves but for the sake of the entire society.
"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.
"Fellow Lagosians, Let us take responsibility for the
welfare and safety of all while we enjoy the festive season with friends and
families. It is important that as a community we strictly abide by the
regulations in the context of a global pandemic, without prejudicing our
efforts to keep the economy running and maintain our means of livelihood to a
sufficient extent."
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