President Muhammadu Buhari has on Wednesday signed the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Health Protection Regulation 2021 as effort to combat the spread of the virus, while boosting the COVID-19 response in the country.
President Buhari in a statement issued by the Ministry of Information and Culture said the COVID-19 regulations were given careful consideration in a bid to safeguard the health of citizens, adding that the regulation would take immediate effect.
The guidelines state that a physical distance of at least two metres must be maintained at all times between in public gatherings with no more than 50 persons in an enclosed space, except religious gatherings in which the persons must not exceed 50 per cent capacity of the space. Failure to comply may risk fine or conviction of up to six months jail term or both.
The President also directed the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), among other relevant authorities to enforce the regulations, warning that any security personnel that refuses to comply with the regulations would be subject to disciplinary actions.
“Any person who, without reasonable cause, contravenes a direction given under Parts 1 and 2 of these regulations commits an offence. Any person who, without reasonable cause, obstructs an authorised official from enforcement of these regulations commits an offence,” the statement stated.
Also, persons must wear face coverings/ masks, wash their hands or use hand sanitisers before being allowed within the premises of a market, supermarket, mall, restaurants, hotel, event centres, gardens, leisure parks, recreational centres, banks, fitness centres among others.
“Any person found to have a body temperature above 38 degrees Celsius shall be denied entry and advised to immediately seek medical attention. Every establishment occupier shall make provision for regular hand hygiene for any person coming into the premises during opening hours.
This includes a hand-washing station with soap and running water or hand sanitiser approved by NAFDAC,” the statement added.
