Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, 3 others on COVID-19 3rd wave alert – FG

Following last week’s detection by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) of the COVID-19 Delta variant in Abuja on a traveller, six states in the country have been placed on red alert.

The affected states are Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau and the nation’s capital, FCT.

In a statement issued Sunday morning and signed by the chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, noted that the nation has, in recent time, continued to witness “worrisome early signs of the third wave of the pandemic.”

Mr Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) urged the concerned states and the country as a whole against losing their guards.

The statement reads in part; “The PSC, however, warns that all States of the Federation should heighten their state of preparedness and continue to enforce all protocols put in place, given the renowned greater ease of spread of the Delta variant. These steps are critical as we begin to see worrisome early signs of increasing cases in Nigeria.”

The statement also announced some recommendations to avoid the spread of infections during and after the celebration of the Islamic festival of Eid-el-Kabir which comes up on Tuesday, July 20.

On the forthcoming Eid prayer for the Sallah festival by Muslim faithful, the SGF recommends the decentralisation of the eid prayer which usually holds at community central prayer grounds on the day of the celebration, saying that outside of the neighbourhood mosques where Friday prayers are usually said should be used for the eid prayer.

“The PSC felicitates with the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration. It, however, urges all State Governments and Religious Leaders to be mindful of the potential for the wider spread of the virus during large gatherings.

“The PSC, therefore, recommends the following preventive measures for a safe Eid-el-Kabir celebration: a) Decentralization of Eid Prayer to neighbourhood Friday Prayer Mosques (outdoor); b) Suspension of Durbar activities; and c) Observation of limitations on all Indoor gatherings,” the statement added.

On the other hand, Mr Anthony Ogunleye, the chief press secretary to the FCT minister, Muhammad Bello, has issued guidelines ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, announcing the closure of recreation centres within the FCT throughout the festive period.

He noted that the decisions were taken at the meeting of an emergency operations committee on COVID-19 in the capital city.

The statement reads in part; “All Eid prayers in the FCT are to be held in the open spaces at Jumaat Mosques as well as the National Eid Ground…All open Eid grounds should have multiple entries and exit points with hand washing and temperature checking facilities; the holding capacity of Eid grounds should be reduced to 50% to ensure physical/social distancing.

“Imams should ensure that sermons are short so that the entire Eid prayers do not exceed one hour; all parks and recreational grounds and facilities shall remain closed throughout the festive period, and worshippers are enjoined to adhere to all prescribed non-pharmaceutical preventive measures of facial coverings, constant hand washing and physical distancing.”