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Tag: Lockdown

  • SGF clarifies phase 4 COVID-19 lockdown

    SGF clarifies phase 4 COVID-19 lockdown

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha has clarified misrepresentation in the briefing of the PSC on Monday.

    Mustapha on Tuesday in Abuja said it was erroneously reported that the federal government had re-introduced nationwide curfew between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m. as part of the COVID-19 safety protocols.

    He, However, said the announcement by the National Incident Manager, Dr. Mukhtar Mohammed, during the PSC press briefing was taken out of context, stressing that the federal government did not relax the curfew imposed earlier under Phase Three of the eased lockdown.

    Rather, he explained that what Mohammed said was that the federal government was maintaining the curfew under the Phase Four of the phased restriction of movement.

    “Under the Fourth Phase of restriction of movement, night clubs, gyms and others will remain closed till further notice; while all citizens will also ensure that mass gatherings outside work settings do not exceed maximum of 50 people in an enclosed space.

    “These restrictions have been in existence under the Third Phase but are being maintained under the Phase Four of the phased restriction of movement,” said the SGF.

    He further said because people had been violating the safety protocols, they had forgotten that the protocols were never relaxed in the first place.

    “Therefore, the PSC hereby reiterates that there is no newly introduced lockdown. There is no need for the panic that followed the announcement of the Fourth Phase of the phased restriction of movement.

    “We will continue to appeal to members of the public to comply with these restrictions because they are necessary safety measures against contracting the dreaded coronavirus, which is still ravaging human populations across the world,” Mustapha said, while speaking with NAN.

    Recall President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the transition of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 to PSC on COVID-19, which took effective from April 1, with a modified mandate to reflect the non-emergent status of COVID-19 as a potentially long-term pandemic.

    “The structure of the PSC shall reflect the new focus of the response with a targeted approach on vaccine oversight, risk communication, international travel quarantine processes and sub-national engagement; and that the tenure of the PSC shall last till 31 December, 2021,” said the president.

    He added that the PSC would maintain the present constitution, functions and strategies of the PTF; be supported by a slim technical and administrative structure.

    Mohammed is expected to formally take over from the National Coordinator, Dr. Sani Aliyu, and function as the Head (Technical Secretariat) and member of the PSC.

    In a similar vein, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed denied that the federal government has “introduced or re-introduced’’ new restrictions on COVID-19.

    The Minister made the rebuttal at a meeting with Online Publishers in Lagos State.

    Mohammed said there were no new restrictions, adding that the Presidential Steering Committee on Covid-19 only reiterated existing regulations to control spread of the disease.

    The minister, a member of the steering committee, said the committee’s national incident manager Mukhtar Mohammed was quoted out of context during the briefing of the committee on Monday in Abuja.

    He said the only thing that was newly introduced was that anyone, including Nigerians travelling from Brazil, Turkey or India, must go through compulsory quarantine.

    “What we did was the need to remind people of the existing extant regulations on Covid-19.

    “Government has not introduced anything new. You can still travel by air or road or any other means but ensure you wear your face mask.

    “We have not opened night clubs, the regulations on social distancing, social and religious gatherings, use of face mask are still in place.

    “The curfew between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m. is still on and we are saying people must obey the existing protocols,’’ he said.

    The minister said the emphasis became imperative because Nigerians were taking things for granted and behaving as if COVID-19 had gone.

    He said India made the same mistake and they were paying dearly for it at the moment

    “This is the mistake that India made when they actually boasted they had conquered Covid-19.

    “They were holding political campaigns and religious festivals when a new variant of COVID -19 surfaced.

    “Today, they are recording more than 400,000 case per day and about 4,000 lives lost daily.

    “This is why every citizen must know where we are going,’’ he said.

    Mohammed said Nigeria had been fortunate not to record high rate of infection that it would not have the health infrastructure to handle.

  • COVID-19: Italy enters a new phase of lockdown

    COVID-19: Italy enters a new phase of lockdown

    Italian government on Monday effected a new phase of lockdown for more than 40 million people due to rise in Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

    Apart for Sardinia, where hardly any restrictions applied, all Italian regions are subject to the medium-strict rules of an orange zone under Italy’s colour-coded system, or the strictest lockdown rules of a red zone.

    In addition to the economically strong Lombardy with its metropolis of Milan and Lazio with its capital Rome, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna also fall into the red zone.

    People there are only supposed to leave their homes in urgent cases, such as for shopping, emergencies or work.

    Sports in the fresh air are only allowed alone. Pupils have to switch back to lessons via the internet.

    “Distance lessons have become unbearable for me, especially after I was allowed to have some face-to-face lessons again,” a pupil from Rome told said.

    In view of the Easter holidays, the government under former European Central Bank (ECB) Chief Mario Draghi already decided on Friday that the red zone would apply to the entire country between April 3 and 5.

    Most recently, the coronavirus pandemic had worsened in the country of 60 million people, with new infections rising daily and incidence values increasing on a weekly basis.

    So far, more than 102,000 people have died as a result of an infection with the coronavirus and authorities have recorded more than 3.223 million cases.

    The rules now in force were decided “according to the principle of the greatest possible caution,” the Health Ministry expert, Franco Locatelli said in an interview with Monday’s edition of the newspaper Corriere della Sera.

    The aim, he said, was to be in a better epidemiological situation after Easter. Health comes first, even if a socio-economic crisis prevails, Locatelli explained further.

  • Wear face masks to avoid another lockdown, Buhari warns Nigerians

    Wear face masks to avoid another lockdown, Buhari warns Nigerians

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed concern over reports of non-compliance with the Executive Order on masks-wearing and the observation of social distancing in public places.

    The President warned Nigerians to cooperate with his orders to avert fresh lockdown of Nigeria.

    But despite his new rule, the President himself did not wear a mask at some points during his outing on Saturday in his hometown Daura, Katsina State.

    However, in a statement on Sunday, his spokesman Garba Shehu said the Nigerian leader introduced the COVID-19 regulation with the best of intentions and not with any motive to punish citizens.

    The presidency appealed to state governments, traditional rulers and religious leaders to play active roles in the sensitization and enforcement of the Executive Order.

    COVID-19 task forces and committees were urged to persuade members of the public to cooperate with the government in achieving compliance and avoid crude methods that may create resistance and resentment, thereby defeating the primary goal of the Executive Order.

    “The Buhari administration is most reluctant to lock down the country and continues to emphasize the non-pharmaceutical measures and the only way to avert lockdowns is to observe these measures as put in place by the Presidential Task Force.

    “Nigerians have come a long way from the dreaded lockdown and the administration is unhappy about any prospects of bringing it back as many citizens will not have food on the table without venturing out on a day-to-day business.

    “Nigerians are required to wear masks, wash hands regularly with soap and clean water, and keep a safe distance with anybody not in your household, hoping that this will help check the spread of COVID-19.

    “Though vaccine availability is within reach, the propensity of the public for non-compliance weakens the fight against the virus. Nigerians must ignore baseless conspiracy theories that seek to deny the reality of the pandemic by complying with the order to wear masks.

    “We have a duty to protect ourselves and others in this difficult global health crisis; no one has immunity against this pandemic. Ignoring health warnings and refusing to comply with safety measures does more harm than good”, the statement read.

  • COVID-19: Macron defends decision not to order 3rd lockdown as 3rd-wave spreads

    COVID-19: Macron defends decision not to order 3rd lockdown as 3rd-wave spreads

    President Emmanuel Macron defended his decision to hold off on a third lockdown on Saturday.

    Macron told the public he had faith in their ability to rein in COVID-19 with less severe curbs even as a third wave spreads and the vaccine rollout falters.

    From Sunday, France will close its borders to all but essential travel to and from countries outside the European Union, while arrivals from within the bloc will have to show a negative test.

    Large shopping malls will be shut and police patrols increased to enforce a 6.00 p.m. curfew.

    But Macron has stopped short of ordering a new daytime lockdown, saying he wants to see first if other measures will be enough to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

    With 10 per cent of cases now attributable to the more contagious variant first found in Britain, senior medics have recommended a new lockdown, and one opinion poll showed more than three-quarters of French people think one is now inevitable.

    The poll also showed falling public confidence in the government’s handling of the crisis.

    “I have trust in us; these hours that we are living through are crucial.

    “Let’s do all we can to slow the epidemic together,’’ Macron tweeted.

    He has also been under fire for rolling out vaccines at a slower pace than other big EU countries, and far slower than Britain or the United States.

    France’s latest figures showed it had given just 1.45 million vaccine doses so far.

    Britain, by comparison, has recorded 8.4 million.

    France reported 24,393 new COVID-19 infections on Saturday while the number of COVID-19 patients in hospital stayed above 27,000 for a fifth straight day.

    The rate of new infections is still lower than it was when the last lockdown was ordered in October.

    But hospitalisation rates are already comparable.

    Paris resident, Sami Terki, said it was “a good thing for now – even mentally – to not have to go through a new lockdown’’.

    But he added “my only concern is that we then take the decision to lock down too late’’.

    The public health authority said the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care dipped slightly to 3,113.

    In a sign of the pressure on hospitals, two critically-ill COVID sufferers were airlifted from Marseille to the western Brittany region on Friday.

    Prof. Dominique Rossi, who heads the Marseille Hospitals’ Medical Commission, said the local health authority had asked hospitals in the Bouche-du-Rhone area to cancel 40 per cent of all non-urgent medical interventions.

    Managing the flow of COVID and non-COVID patients was “a real ethical headache’’, he told Reuters.

    “The (COVID-19) projections are really worrying and the lack of personnel, who are already exhausted, adds another element of concern.’’

  • Second Wave: FG considers lockdown in Lagos, Abuja, Plateau

    Second Wave: FG considers lockdown in Lagos, Abuja, Plateau

    The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 is considering targeted lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; as well as Lagos and Plateau States.

    PTF National Incident Manager, Mukhtar Muhammed, who stated this on Friday, described as alarming, the rising cases of COVID-19 infections recorded in the three urban areas.

    Muhammed said data showed that urban local governments in the affected places recorded the highest cases of Covid amid the second wave of the pandemic in Nigeria. According to data by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Lagos (46,935 cases), Abuja (16,470 cases), Plateau (7,801) have recorded the highest number of Covid infections and fatalities in Nigeria in the last eleven months.

    Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme, the PTF official said the Federal Government wants economic activities to continue but these activities must be in a regulated fashion.

    When asked of the possibility of a targeted lockdown and not a total lockdown based on data of hotspot areas, Muhammed said, “That is exactly what we did, we have been analysing the data and we have been looking at the geographical areas that have been most affected and the different age groups.”

    “Certainly, even if we are going to have a lockdown, it is not going to be a total lockdown. A couple of weeks back, we analysed the data and we identified the hotspot local government areas.

    “Mostly, the areas affected are the urban local governments in Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Plateau. Even in most other states, it is the urban areas that are involved. So, if we are going to have any restriction, it will be in these areas.

    “The urban areas are the most affected and that is why we have these super spreaders and that is where we are going to target. We have analysed that and we are advising the states based on the data that these are the focused areas where these transmissions are more than the others,” he added.

  • Uzodinma threatens another total lockdown

    Uzodinma threatens another total lockdown

    Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo has threatened a second total lockdown if residents of the state continue to disregard COVID-19 safety protocols.

    The governor issued the threat in a statewide broadcast in Owerri late on Friday night.

    Uzodinma, who frowned at the nonchalance of Imo residents towards established safety protocols, said that four mobile courts have been put in place in different parts of the state to prosecute violators of COVID-19 safety protocols.

    He directed the use of face masks, hand sanitisers and hand washstands in all malls, markets, hotels, eateries, night clubs, supermarkets and public offices, as well as, for all religious gatherings, marriage and burial ceremonies.

    He pecked the maximum number of persons for public gatherings at 50 and warned that offenders would have to endure six months in jail or pay N20,000 in lieu.

    “However, I must make it absolutely clear that if our people choose instead to continue to deceive themselves that Coronavirus does not exist and continue to go about without face masks and without observing other safety protocols, I will be forced to review the situation in the coming weeks.

    “If it is clear from the realities on ground that extra, more stringent measures must be taken to keep our people safe.

    “I will have no choice but to authorise a second lockdown of the state. The choice is entirely ours to make: To strictly adhere to the simple safety protocols now or to face a complete lockdown in a few weeks.

    “Let us all resolve today to do the right thing for our state, for our safety and for the safety of our loved ones,” he urged.

  • PTF: Another Lockdown? Never!, By Michael West

    PTF: Another Lockdown? Never!, By Michael West

     

    It appears this government may likely be the undertaker of deeply polarised, highly ethnicised and economically impoverished country called Nigeria. The misgovernance of this clueless, visionless and inept leadership should be called to order before they destroy the feeble fabrics of pseudo-unity that keeps Nigeria trudging on the path of nationhood.

    How can the PTF dare to threaten Nigerians with another possible lockdown when government’s pronouncements and actions actually promote violation of the Covid protocols and rules it put in place? No reasonable government will turn deaf ears to appeals from well meaning individuals and organisations that the NIN forced registration where multitude of people cluster on daily basis to beat the deadline should be suspended till further notice.

    Government imposed distancing at worship centres, schools and some public places like banks but allow Nigerians in their millions to struggle their way through at NIN registration centres. They prepare grounds for increased infection thereby. It is sheer insensitivity and wickedness! Nigerians must firmly and frontally resist any attempt to impose any lockdown.

    The irony of it is that these bunch of confused people masquerading as leaders don’t buy their own foods. They live big at the expense of tax payers. Who will feed the already pauperised Nigerians and their children if there’s another lockdown?

    This is the only country around the globe where increased tariffs in electricity and fuel price hike welcomed its people as they returned from months of lockdown.

    We should let them know that we will not tolerate those irrational decisions any further. Government is about the security and welfare of the people and not to subject the citizens to indignity and economic servitude perpetually. Those in authority should learn to feel the pulse of the man on the street before taking some serious decisions. Covid is real, but we still have our lives to live.

    Warning: There’s a limit to how long school children can use nose masks. It is not medically approved to be used by children at all except for their moments in highly infectious environments. But since we enjoy copy and paste approach to most of our situations, please allow them to breathe when they feel like. Their lungs are not strong enough for long use of masks. Please don’t kill our children to satisfy your foreign masters.

    – Michael West

  • Let’s do everything possible to avoid another lockdown, PTF tells Nigerians

    Let’s do everything possible to avoid another lockdown, PTF tells Nigerians

    The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 pandemic has assured that unless vaccines are safe and effective, they will not be administered on people in the country.

    Chairman of the task force and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, who gave the assurance, on Monday, during the task force’s media briefing in Abuja, noted that apart from the use of vaccines, the adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions will continue to be emphasised in the fight against the virus in the country.

    He admonished Nigerians to make all sacrifices necessary to prevent a second lockdown in the country, pointing out that Nigeria is in a difficult situation that makes it necessary to consider all options.

    He said: “The positive news about vaccines remains high in the ranking of discussions nationwide. Nigerians are assured that the PTF will ensure that the vaccines to be approved will be safe and effective. We must however work together as foot soldiers in the vaccine advocacy so that we can eliminate the pandemic.

    “The PTF wishes to emphasise that the success of our national response shall not depend on vaccines alone. Rather, compliance with the non-pharmaceutical protocols must remain top on our individual priorities.

    “Let me remind you that the pandemic is raging and all tiers of Government and citizens must keep their hands-on-deck. We are in a difficult situation in which a balance must continue to be struck between lives and livelihood. We are considering all options while hoping that broad cooperation will be received. We must do everything possible to avoid the second lockdown in Nigeria.”

    Speaking on the reopening of schools, on Monday, the SGF tasked state governments to ensure that the non-pharmaceutical interventions are strictly adhered to in schools so as not to worsen the escalating spread of the virus.

    He added: “You will also recall that the PTF had informed you that the resumption of schools nationwide would be reviewed due to rising daily numbers of infections and the challenges of case management especially the shortage of oxygen so that we do not allow our facilities to be overwhelmed.

    “While we note that several States have proceeded with the resumption of schools, the PTF recommends strongly that very strict adherence to Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions should be enforced by the States to avoid the escalation of cases. The PTF will continue to dialogue with the Governors and the Federal Ministry of Education to closely monitor the situation.”

    On plan by the government to speed up testing rate across the country, he said the PTF had already charged the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to immediately commence the planned 450 tests per council area nationwide, even as it charged all stakeholders to start getting involved in risk communication and community engagement on COVID-19.

    Mustapha further stated: “The PTF has also authorised the NCDC to immediately implement the 450 tests per LGA plan, nationwide, immediately. We are aware that states are not on the same pedestal in the area of testing and we shall begin with states that are in the forefront of resourcing and infrastructure.

    “​The PTF wishes to emphasise the need for all segments of the society to get involved in the risk communication and community engagement. In our continued collaboration with the religious and traditional rulers, we align with the statements issued by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) guiding the sick and the elderly on the need to avoid large gathering by staying at home. We are optimistic that other institutions will follow suit as we progress.

    “We are making progress with the Case Management under our National Response. The National Response continues to receive the support of the private sector in the delivery of medical oxygen to the various facilities.

    “At the same time, funds for the rehabilitation of existing oxygen facilities have been released to the various institutions. There is also a process in motion to ensure the construction of at least one oxygen facility in each state.”

    On the national response effort and the comparative developments across the African continent, Mustapha re-emphasised the need for testing for the virus to be ramped up.

    He stated: “On the African Continent, South Africa and Nigeria continue to report highest daily count, while South Africa, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Algeria and Kenya account for 76 per cent of all cases in the region. Nigeria has moved up to the third position in highest cumulative caseload but remains 2nd for new cases and 5th highest in cumulative deaths on the WHO African region.

    “​From the foregoing, testing has proven to have become more significant in our national response. The PTF still urges the State Governments to enable their EOCs to step up on sample collection and to maximise the capacities of the PCR Laboratories already established in their states.”

    He also said the next 100 violators of international travellers’ COVID-19 protocols will soon be sanctioned, as approved by the President.

    Mustapha also said that the PTF is proceeding with the next phase of the approved Presidential sanction against all in-bound international travellers that failed to undergo the day-7 post-arrival test.

    He added: “The PTF will publish the next list of 100 defaulters very soon.

    “Let me clarify, however, that there is a strong multi-sectoral approach to the activities, decisions and engagement of the PTF with institutions of government and the public sector. Consequently, all steps being taken are outcomes of in-depth consultations and review before they are made public.”

  • FG speaks on alleged plans to declare fresh lockdown this weekend

    FG speaks on alleged plans to declare fresh lockdown this weekend

    The Federal Government on Thursday urged Nigerians to disregard the news circulating on the social media that it was contemplating another lockdown.
    Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), also Chairman, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, made clarification in a statement signed by Mr Willie Bassey, Director Information in his office.
    Mustapha also advised Nigerians to join hands with the Federal Government to contain the spread of the virus by adhering to Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPI’s) as recommended by PTF.
    “The attention of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has been drawn to some misinformation circulating on the social media to the effect that the Federal Government is contemplating another lockdown this weekend.
    “The PTF wishes to state categorically that there is no such consideration at any of its meetings, nor has any recommendation been made to this effect to the President.
    “The PTF frowns at such unpatriotic misinformation which is capable of causing unnecessary panic and anxiety among the populace,” he said in the statement.
  • Just in: Kwara orders partial lockdown amidst Covid-19’s second wave

    Just in: Kwara orders partial lockdown amidst Covid-19’s second wave

    Kwara state government on Wednesday imposed a fresh lockdown in the state from 12 midnight to 4 am with effect from Thursday, December 24, 2020.

    The lockdown was contained in the new guidelines on COVID-19 issued on Wednesday by the state Technical Committee on COVID-19.

    Addressing a press conference in Ilorin, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Raji Rasaq who doubles as the vice-chairman of the Technical Committee on COVID-19 said, “There shall be partial statewide lockdown between 12 am and 430a.m. until further notice.

    “These new guidelines take effect from Thursday, December 24, 2020.”

    Other measures announced by the committee included, “Appropriate use of face mask in public places is mandatory. Concerts/carnivals/Clubbing are not allowed until further notice.

    “Worship centres are not to allow congregations exceeding 50% of the maximum capacity of the venue. This is to allow for physical distancing.

    “Other gatherings (formal and informal) exceeding 50 people are disallowed. Again, proper use of face masks in public spaces is mandatory. Therefore, the protocol of ‘No face mask, no entry’ must apply at all public places.

    “Civil servants are to work from their homes. The only exemptions are essential workers, especially in the health sector. Virtual meetings are encouraged.

    “Transporters are to enforce all COVID-19 protocols, including proper use of face masks by drivers and passengers. Appropriate sanctions will apply to defaulters”, he said.

    He further stated that Security agencies would deploy all lawful means to enforce these protocols, adding that defaulters are deemed to constitute dangers to public health.

    He said, “Provisions of the Kwara State Infectious Diseases Regulations 2020 shall apply to all offenders.

    “There will be further communications on school resumption.

    He said, “These new guidelines are subject to reviews as situations dictate.”