COVID-19: Relief for Lagos, Ogun, Abuja residents as govt relaxes lockdown measures

Some relief may have come the way of Lagos, Ogun and Abuja residents quarantined by orders of the Nigerian government as a few adjustments have been made in the restriction directives occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.

On Wednesday, the government said that markets in states currently observing a lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic were now allowed to open between the hours of 10am and 2 pm every 48 hours.

A relaxation of the lockdown protocols was shared by National co-ordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Aliyu Sani, during the daily press briefing by the taskforce in Abuja.

“For markets, only shops and stalls selling food and groceries shall be allowed to open to customers between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm,” he said.

Read also: Anambra govt distances self from Ubah’s COVID-19 fund drive

For supermarkets and food stores, Sani said that their opening hours would be between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm and warned that all owners and managers must screen staff and customers before entry.

“On arrival, all staff must be screened for a high temperature and all those found to have a high body temperature above 38, will be denied entry and advised to seek immediate medical attention. All deliveries for supplies and products for these supermarkets must be made between the hours of 5:00 am and 9:00 am,” Sani said.

The new guidelines also  ban  bus services during the lockdown and a  mass gathering of more than 20 people.

Sani added that all residents of Lagos, Ogun and Abuja states would be confined to their homes, except  for the purpose of performing an essential service, obtaining  essential goods or service or seeking medical care.

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