Anthony Iwuoma
“The gradual easing of the lockdown which commences, on Monday, is not a license to all to flood the streets. We are not going from zero to a hundred.”
That was the warning issued Lagos residents by the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, adding that those resuming work must comply with all the guidelines as given by the federal and state governments.
He issued the warning announced on Sunday during a media briefing on Covid-19 update in the state, held at Lagos House, Marina, Lagos Island.
The governor warned that law enforcement agencies had been mandated to ensure that residents strictly adhere to all guidelines and directives regarding personal hygiene, movement and public behaviour.
According to him, “Tomorrow (Monday) we will commence a modified phase of the four-week lockdown directed by President Muhammadu Buhari. This new phase is a gradual and controlled easing of the lockdown and will last for six weeks, in three phases of two weeks each.
“The goal is to enable us to achieve a balance between the protection of lives and the sustenance of livelihoods. Following each phase, the Federal and State Governments will review the situation and further adjust the response.
“We have been able to take advantage of the lockdown to significantly boost our capacity to contain the threat of this pandemic.
“One thing bears repeating: the gradual easing of the lockdown which commences tomorrow is not a license to all to flood the streets. We are not going from zero to a hundred.
“I would caution that we still remain at home if we truly are able to continue to work remotely and away from the office. We should only be out unless it is absolutely necessary to be out.
“As I have always said, we are not in normal times, and these challenging times will very likely be with us for some time to come.
“As long as this pandemic is with us, the disruptions we have seen will continue in one form or another. We do not know when we will be able to resume what we once regarded as our normal lives, or even whether those times we are now nostalgic about, will ever come back.
“What we however know is that the only way forward is the path of discipline and sacrifice; strict adherence to all directives and guidelines regarding personal hygiene, movement, and public behaviour.
“On our part as a state government, I pledge that we will continue to be open and transparent about our response to this pandemic.”
The governor revealed that his administration had opened new isolation facilities in Oniru and Gbagada, and added 120 beds to our capacity.
“We also opened a new testing facility at the Lagos State Biobank, while also scaling up our active community case search, by opening sample collection centres across the State.
“The success of our efforts at ramping up testing is the reason why we are seeing an escalation in the number of cases in Lagos State.
“As at yesterday, (Saturday) May 2, 2020, we had 1,084 confirmed cases, while 247 have been treated and discharged. In terms of active cases, we have 791 cases; and very sadly, we have now lost 28 persons to the pandemic.
“As we test more people, we are likely to find more confirmed cases. This is certainly the right approach, as the more, we are able to track and find positive cases of the infection, the easier it will be for us to take the steps required to contain and finally defeat the pandemic.
“Thus, in line with the guidance issued by the Presidential Task Force, starting tomorrow, Monday, May 4, 2020, for the next two weeks, there will be a curfew across the State from 8 pm to 6 am daily.
“All movement in and out of Lagos is prohibited, except for people carrying out essential services or transporting essential products such as agro products, petroleum products, relief items, construction materials and registered courier
services.
“All public servants in the entire Lagos State Public Service are to remain at home tomorrow, May 4, 2020.
“From Tuesday, May 5, 2020, only critical staff on Grade Levels 15 and above, including council workers, who have also been specifically adjudged as critical staff by their Accounting Officers will be expected to go to work while frontline workers across all levels are, however, expected to continue working.”
On markets, the governor said: “All open markets and stores will be allowed to operate on alternate days between the hours of 9 am and 3 pm. Markets and stores selling food items will open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, while markets and stores selling all other items, excluding food, will open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
“Private sector companies and businesses will be permitted to operate within a limited framework. What this means is that offices and businesses that choose to open are allowed to open only between 9 am and 3 pm daily; and must limit the number of staff on the business premises to no more than sixty per cent (60%) of full capacity, at any point in time.”
He urged banks and other financial institutions to open their branches and offer a full complement of services to the public.
However, he insisted they must make sure they comply with all the guideline regarding maximum office capacity and physical distancing.
Furthermore, the governor directed that all eateries and restaurants should open between 9am and 7pm, but only for take-away and delivery services.
He said all places of worship remain barred from holding any form of service until further notice, including schools across all levels.
“All Recreational Parks, spas, salons, sporting facilities, and public gyms, swimming pools and sporting facilities, as well as hotels, shall continue to remain closed, until further notice.”
With regard to commercial buses,
Sanwo-Olu said their operations in the state shall be between the hours of 6am and 7pm daily.
“This applies only to motor vehicles. All commercial motorcycle operations in Lagos State are hereby suspended until further notice. Tricycles operating in unrestricted areas must not carry more than two passengers per trip.
“All of the above directives and restrictions I have outlined must be underlined and accompanied by the following mandatory practices: The use of face-masks everywhere in public, and strict adherence to personal hygiene practices: nose and mouth must be covered when sneezing or coughing; hands must be washed or sanitized regularly, and no handshakes or hugs.
“The provision of hand-washing or sanitising facilities and mandatory temperature checks in all the public places that are allowed to operate:
“To make it easier for the full enforcement of compliance with these directives, the Lagos State Government has launched Whistleblower hotlines.
“We are encouraging all Lagosians to be on the lookout for those who flout these orders and directives, and to report them to the Hotline, by calling or sending a text message to the following numbers: 0901-051-3197 or 0901-051-3198 or 0901051-3199.
“We will investigate all reports, and ensure that we take appropriate action. penalties and sanctions will be accordingly meted out to all those found contravening the directives,” the governor said.
