Amid concerns about deadly COVID-19 strains in India, South Africa, Turkey and Brazil, the Federal Government has reintroduced some measures which were put in place during the second COVID-19 wave in Nigeria.
The government restricted gatherings at worship centres and banned night clubs, concerts, carnivals and street parties which are ubiquitous during Sallah celebrations. The government has also declared Wednesday and Thursday as public holidays to mark the 2021 Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations.
It, however, said political parties involving large gatherings are to strictly adhere to COVID-19 guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The National Incident Manager of the Presidential Steering Committee On COVID-19, Mukhtar Mohammed, at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, also said a nationwide curfew would be introduced from midnight of Monday. He said the curfew would run from 12 midnight till 4am daily.
According to him, “All recreational venues, gyms and indoor sports facilities are to close until 11th June, 2021.
“All informal and formal festivity events including weddings, conferences, congresses, office parties, seminars, end of year events involving more than 50 persons are no longer allowed.
“Concerts, carnivals and street parties are banned until further notice;
“All attendees must wash or sanitize their hands before and after attendance; and
“Physical distancing must be adhered to for all attendees.
“All political activities involving large gatherings
are to strictly adhere to COVID-19 Guidelines issued by INEC.
“All mass gatherings to remain restricted to 50 persons except with explicit
permission of the State Government;
“All bars, night clubs, pubs and event centres are to remain closed;
“All restaurants to adhere to 50% eat-in capacity, except those providing services to hotel residents, takeaways, home deliveries and drive-ins are allowed; and
“Hotels to remain open but must observe all non-pharmaceutical interventions.”
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, the control has so far recorded 165,419 cases of the virus out of which 2,065 have died while 156,300 have been discharged.