Lagos govt laments congestion of mortuaries due to COVID-19 lockdown

The Lagos State government has lamented the congestion of mortuaries in the state due to the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown imposed to check the spread of the virus.

This was revealed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at a press briefing on Saturday April 25, who noted that the congested mortuaries in the state are now in full need of urgent decongestion.

Speaking further during the press briefing the governor who outlined new measures to ensure the decongestion of mortuaries in the state said that the mortuaries are not full due to Coronavirus cases, but because residents of the state have been unable to gather to hold burial ceremonies for their loved ones due to the lockdown order in the state.

He said; “Because of this inability to hold funerals, occasioned by the restriction on movement, the mortuaries in Lagos State are now full and in urgent need of decongestion. Let me make it clear at this point that these are not Covid-19 deaths.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Lagos to enforce use of face masks from Monday

“I am now constrained to make this appeal to all Lagosians who have corpses of loved ones in the mortuaries, to please go ahead and schedule these funerals.

“The mortuaries in Lagos are not full because of Covid-19 deaths –the total number of Covid-19 deaths in Lagos as at today is 20; the only reason the mortuaries are full at this time is because funerals are not being held, and have not been held for most of the last two months.

“Lagosians can hold or attend funeral ceremonies in the state as long as they comply with the requirements of the state, which are as follows:

• The total number of persons at the funeral, including officiating religious leaders, must not exceed 20.

• Physical distancing must be maintained at the funeral ceremony.

• All attendees/mourners must use masks and ensure they wash their hands after the ceremony.

• There must be no receptions or parties to accompany the funerals.

“If we are unable to see a decongestion of the mortuaries across the state in the next two weeks, the Lagos State Government will be compelled to carry out mass burials to achieve this. We do not want to be forced to do this, which is why we are asking for your cooperation in this regard,” the governor added.

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