The Federal Government of Nigeria on Monday approved new restrictions in a bid to mitigate the spread of a second wave of COVID-19 in the country. The chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, announced the new restrictions during a press briefing of the task force in Abuja, wherein he ordered the closure of all restaurants, night clubs, event centres, and bars in all the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The number of guests at weddings and conference has also been cut down to 59 as new strain of coronavirus hits the nation. Services like home deliveries by restaurants, services to hotel residents, takeaways and drive-ins may operate.
The FG is also limiting all gatherings linked to religious events to less than 50 per cent of the capacity of the facility of use with strict compliance to wearing of face mask.
On transportation, the PTF chairman said public transportation systems should not carry passengers more than 50 per cent of their capacity, in compliance with social distancing rules.
“From our assessment, the current situation are clearly the consequences of certain occurrences and events of the last few weeks,” Mustapha said “These include:
“Sudden increase in social gatherings involving large congregations from different parts of the country, and the world, at events such as weddings, religious activities, political rallies, conferences and end of year celebrations,
“These events, classified globally as ‘supers-spreader events’, make the risk of a single infection causing a large outbreak among attendees significantly higher,
“Furthermore, as we reopened the economy, we experienced increased economic, social and religious gatherings and activities all of which have combined to play a part in viral transmissions.”
Mustapha explained that the directives will be in implementation for the next five weeks.
