• Friday, March 29, 2024
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FG compels states to constitute task team on Covid-19 protocols enforcement

FG compels states to constitute task team on Covid-19 protocols enforcement

The federal government on Tuesday directed state governments across the country to constitute task force teams that would ensure citizens abide by the non-pharmaceutical interventions and safety protocols of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sani Aliyu, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force gave this directive at the weekly briefing of the team in Abuja, adding that it is socially unacceptable to come out of the public without a face mask.

“It is about time we start putting in place measures to do the right thing in terms of changing their behavioural pattern.

Aliyu while speaking on the need for state to intensify testing expressed concern that one state has tested less than 500 ,whereas another is closing up on almost 1 million test mark since the pandemic.

“We appeal to the states to pick up and work with over 70 laboratories across the country for testing.

The National coordinator also told Nigerians to monitor themselves closely and go for test when they notice key symptoms of high fever, cough, loss of smell and test.

“You can contact Coivd-19 and have mild symptoms and be in intensive care. Age is a strongest factor. From age of 50 upwards, your risk of dying of Covid-19 is 1 in 5. The best way to protect yourself is to assume everybody you meet has Covid-19. And that risk is there, whether in office or public gathering.

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He emphasised that public gathering should be done outside instead of in doors to reduce risks of Covid-19.

Aliyu observed further that even with the availability of vaccines which are not even in Nigeria yet, it takes over a month to get immune response after taking the vaccine.

Also speaking, the Controller General Nigeria Immigration, Muhammed Babandede has warned travellers against non adhere to the Covid-19 test condition for traveling as it would lead to seizure of passports for 6 months.

He said 100 passports have been currently seized due to the non-compliance to the travel conditions

“The next visa for global travel is health especially the Covid-19 test. It may not be possible to cross border until you have the Covid-19 test or vaccination. It is our duty to implement the directives of the president the power he drives ”

“The powers are there to restrict a person who have refuse to comply with any regulation because lack of compliance to the Covid-19 test is a threat to public health. We have complied by blocking 100 passports from traveling.

“Even if they go to police and declare those passports missing, they cannot re-issue them any part of the world and they cannot cross our national borders until after 6months or when we are communicated from the appropriate authorities of their compliance. This would imply not just to Nigerians.”

He stressed that travellers coming into the country must agree to undergo the Covid-19 test with the evidence of payment before entrance and must be tested else their passports would be revoked immediately.