Residents of Nigeria’s Coronavirus epicentre of Lagos as well as the many businesses which drive the country’s economic growth have been lifted by clear signs that the wild spread of the pandemic is beginning to ease so much so the state government has announced the closure of some isolation centres that are no longer in use.
Five full months after the country’s first index case followed by 15,149 other confirmed cases which came in quick succession, the healthcare infrastructure of the state and its leadership had been under a crushing test, with businesses collapsing or grinding to a halt, temporarily.
“I must however also mention that we have seen a general decrease in positivity rates in Lagos State over the past two weeks, which, combined with the increase in testing numbers, paints a very encouraging picture of the outcome of our response strategy,” said an elated Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu in his 17th regular update yesterday.
“This is good news for the people and for the businesses which employ them,” said Timothy Enechukwu who owns a small business in Lagos employing 43 workers. “Perhaps there is now a chance we can hope to restart our business and bringing back our people.”
The slow-down in the spread is allowing the government to pursue its objective of calibrating an effective balance between the competing demands of safeguarding lives and enabling livelihoods.
Consequently, worship centres as well as many business types which had been previously shut will now be allowed to open. Firstly, government has increased the permissible capacity for public gatherings from 20 to 50 persons. This applies to a wide range of events, from AGMs to funerals.
Similarly, restaurants that have been bleeding jobs for months, will now be permitted to open for in-dining services, from the 14th of August, but must maintain a 50% occupancy capacity.
Social Clubs and recreational centers will also now be allowed to open from the 14th of August 2020 but they will be required to obtain a Provisional Safety Compliance Certificate through the registration portal of the Lagos State Safety.
However, all Spas, Bars, Lounges, Night Clubs, Cinemas, Games Arcades are to remain shut but this closure rule may be reviewed before the end of the month, the governor said.
In relation to schools, students in SS3 and Technical studies TEC3 are being allowed back from August 3rd, for Exit Classes only to give them two weeks to participate in revision classes and examinations in preparation for the forthcoming West African Examinations (WAEC), which will start on August 17, 2020.
Sanwo Olu said he expects all standard precautions must be put in place by school authorities: including handwashing facilities, physical distancing, the use of face masks, and so on.
As at Friday July 31, 2020, Lagos has had a total of 15,150 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 10,835 persons who have recovered and discharged. A total of 194 persons have been lost to the virus and it leaves 1813 active cases in community and 96 under management across various isolation centers in the State.
According to the governor, “in terms of our Isolation Centers, we have since, last night, shut down our Eti-Osa Isolation Center and will be shutting down our Agidingbi Isolation Center and moving all the patients there to our soon to be commissioned Indo Center.
“Furthermore, our Infectious Diseases Hospital in Yaba is now also gradually being reverted back to its status as a hospital to cater to all forms of infectious diseases. The Ca-Covid dedicated tent on the IDH grounds will however remain strictly for Covid-19 cases.”
In June, Lagos further expanded COVID-19 testing capacity in with the accreditation of seven private laboratories. In the week ending July 26, 2020, the state successfully tested close to 9,000 samples across the public and private sector laboratories, a 50% increase from the approximately 6,000 samples tested in each of the preceding two weeks.
