The Presidential Task Force on Coronavirus, PTF COVID-19 on Monday said only about 600 000 persons have been so far tested for COVID-19 in Nigeria ,urging Nigerians to adhere to the protocols of non pharmaceutical interventions and safety protocols to avoid spread of the pandemic.
The government had earlier gave a target of testing 2 million people within the first three months of the commencement of the pandemic but had failed to meet its own target despite the current downward trend in the recent figures of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sani Aliyu, the National Cordinator of the Presidential Task Force who gave this information on Monday at the PTG briefing also warned against laxity on the part of people as the government gradually opens the economy and education to address concerns of possible surge of the viral infection.
According to Sani, sub nationals are expected to meet at 1 percent testing of its entire population, observing however that only the federal capital Territory had met that target with Lagos State reaching that target closely.
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He noted that as the government restrategises on reopening further the economy, Nigerians must strictly adhere to non pharmaceutical interventions and abide by all necessary safety protocols.
“What is means is that as we continue to relax the restrictions, the coronavirus spreads quietly and quickly and this is why we must maintain safety measures at all times especially in our schools and public places”
He noted that the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, and the federal Ministry of education, state authorities are working closely in ensuring that safety guidelines produced are relevant authorities as well as communicating their procedures effectively.
Speaking on school resumption, he said schools must take adequate measures to understand how covid 19 can spread, in order to avoid the second wave in the spread of the virus.
“We must follow steps on how to mitigate the pandemic’s transmission, in line with its official guidelines and if they have a positive case, they need to know how it would be managed and whom to report to.”
“For safety of students, teachers and staff, schools must have detailed communication protocols that includes parents, staff, school health team, school authorities, local and state authorities as well as communication their procedures effectively and clearly.
He also directed Public servants and workers in public offices to always wear their face masks and avoid the high risk of spreading the pandemic.
