Nigeria Coronavirus: 6,401 Confirmed Cases, as Government Extends ‘Eased Lockdown.’
Nigeria Coronavirus: 6,401 Confirmed Cases, as Government Extends ‘Eased Lockdown.’
According to a report by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on the 19th of May 2020, 226 new cases were confirmed and 1 death was recorded in Nigeria. Whilst the Federal Government of Nigeria has prolonged the gradual easing of the COVID-19 lockdown across the nation by two extra weeks.
The government says Nigeria isn’t prepared for a complete lifting of lockdown, subsequently, the first level of easing will be set up for the following fourteen days. This was revealed by the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, who also works as the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF). He explained during the daily media briefing of the team in Abuja.
A nationwide overnight curfew between 20:00 and 06:00 (local time) and the ban on interstate travel remains in place, with businesses such as bars, gyms, clubs, and spas are still closed. The SGF disclosed that regardless of the progressive advancement made, the nation is as yet not yet prepared for full reviving of the economy and said that intense choices must be taken for the greater good of the people.
“The reality is that, despite the modest progress made, Nigeria is not yet ready for full opening of the economy and tough decisions, have to be taken, for the good of the greater majority.
Any relaxation will only portend grave danger for our populace. Advisedly, the current phase of eased restriction, will be maintained for another two weeks, during which time, stricter enforcement and persuasion measures, will be pursued”, Mustapha maintained.
President Muhammadu Buhari.
The lockdown of Kano State, due to the high number of COVID-19 cases reported there would continue until June 1. Moreover, the Katagum, Giade, and Zaki local government areas (Bauchi state) will be under lockdown until Friday, June 22. Mustapha said Buhari conceded the extension due to the suggestion of the PTF.
Task Force Recommendations Okayed by President Buhari Include:
- The measures, exemptions, advisories, and scope of entities allowed to reopen under phase one of the eased locked down, shall be maintained across the federation for another two weeks effective from midnight today (18th May 2020 to 1st June 2020);
- Intensifying efforts to “tell (communicate), trace (identify) and treat (manage)” cases;
- Elevating the level of community ownership of non-pharmaceutical interventions;
- Maintain the existing lockdown order in Kano for an additional two weeks;
- The imposition of precision lockdown in states, or in metropolitan/high-burden LGAs, that are reporting a rapidly increasing number of cases, when the need arises. This would be complemented with the provision of palliatives & continued re-evaluation of the impact of the interventions;
- Aggressive scale-up of efforts to ensure that communities are informed, engaged, and participating in the response with enhanced public awareness in high-risk states.
Government offices, banks, and markets will continue to operate for limited hours. Nigeria’s present count of 6,401 cases implies it is West Africa’s most affected nation toppling Ghana to the spot. In the interim, for better amicability in the battle against the pandemic, Buhari urged governors to work intimately with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on the pandemic. Following the plea, the president withdrew his planned national broadcast.
In other news, Kano state officials donate half salaries to COVID-19 response as Humanitarian Affairs Minister delivers federal food support to Kano.
The NCDC May 19th report implies that no new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours. The 226 new cases are reported from 16 states which are; Lagos (131), Ogun (25), Plateau (15), Edo (11), Kaduna (7), Oyo (6), FCT (5), Adamawa (5), Jigawa (4), Ebonyi (4), Borno (4), Nasarawa (3), Bauchi (2), Gombe (2), Enugu (1), Bayelsa (1).
-WINSALA Gbotemi.
–Staff Writer, Eagle Global Markets.
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