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Tag: Lockdown

  • Markets closure: Lagos not on lockdown over Coronavirus – Sanwo-Olu

    Markets closure: Lagos not on lockdown over Coronavirus – Sanwo-Olu

    The Lagos State Government on Wednesday denied reports the state was on lockdown following the closure of some markets and stores to curtail the spread of coronavirus as announced on Tuesday by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    Commissioner for Information, Strategy and Security, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, stated that the impression created by such reports is erroneous.

    “Lagos is not on lockdown despite the stringent measures introduced by the government,” he said.

    “Mr. Governor, who is the Incident Commander, only urged private sector establishments to introduce measures that will support the government’s efforts at curtailing the spread of COVID-19.

    “Governor Sanwo-Olu suggested that banks should enhance their online banking services to enable their customers have transactions without visiting banking halls.

    “All markets that are not selling food, pharmaceutical products, water, medical equipment and other essential materials are to close down,” he stressed.

    According to him, workers providing essential services such as Fire Service, Emergency, health, water, telecommunication, security, media and others are exempted from the directive.

    He said the initiatives being introduced by the government were to prevent any situation where more than 25 persons will gather in the same place at any time.

    “The Sanwo-Olu Administration is concerned about the rising number of COVID-19 cases, hence it is adopting measures to keep residents safe.

    “The government will continue to appraise the situation, consult various stakeholders and make further announcements to check the spread of this lethal disease.

    “Residents should observe simple hygiene measures, such as washing hands with soap and water, covering mouth while sneezing or coughing and consulting a doctor when feeling ill. Anyone feeling unwell should stay indoors,” Omotoso said.

    He urged residents to remain observant, prayerful and report all suspected cases of COVID-19 through the emergency hotlines – 08000CORONA, 08023169485, 08033535529, 08052817243.

  • JUST IN: South Africa orders nationwide lockdown over COVID-19

    JUST IN: South Africa orders nationwide lockdown over COVID-19

    South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday ordered a 21-day country-wide lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

    He ordered South Africans to “stay at home” until midnight on April 16.

    Ramaphosa in his address said, “Immediate, swift and extraordinary action is required if we are to prevent a human catastrophe of enormous proportions

    “While this measure will have a considerable impact on people’s livelihoods, on the life of our society and our economy, the human cost of delaying this action would be far greater.”

    South Africa has confirmed 402 COVID-19 infections — the most in Africa.

    The first one was detected on March 5. Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has warned as much as 70% of the population could contract the illness over time.

    While Ramaphosa declared a national disaster a week ago and instituted travel bans, shut schools and banned large gatherings, those measures have failed to slow the pandemic’s spread.

  • Coronavirus spread puts all of Italy on total lockdown

    Coronavirus spread puts all of Italy on total lockdown

    Italy’s 60 million people on Tuesday were under lockdown with public events cancelled, movement restricted and schools and universities closed, in a drastic bid to slow the pace of COVID-19 infections.

    According to the sweeping measures announced on Monday by the government in Rome, people across the country are only allowed to leave their home for a few reasons, including grocery shopping, visits to the doctor and care for elderly or sick relatives.

    Overnight, panicked shoppers made a run on 24-hour supermarkets, in spite of the government insisting this is not necessary as people are still allowed to leave their homes to buy food.

    A report says the message is to make people to stay inside and avoid socialising.

    Cinemas and theatres were closed nationwide.

    Shops, bars and restaurants were only open to a limited extent.

    The nationwide emergency measures followed quickly on the heels of travel restrictions for large parts of northern Italy adopted on Sunday.

    The closure of all schools, universities and kindergartens has been extended from mid-March to at least early April.

    However, international train and flight connections, as well as local public transport, have not been restricted by Rome.

    Italy has the largest number of COVID-19 cases outside of mainland China.

    Since it was first detected in Italy in February, almost 10,000 people have contracted it, with 463 deaths.

    Hospitals in the hard-hit north report they are at capacity and places in the intensive care units are scarce.