Nigerian govt puts seven states on red alert as cases of Covid-19 Delta variant spreads

The federal government on Sunday put six states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on red alert as it lamented the spread of Delta variant of Covid-19.

This was made known by Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Governemnt of the Federation (SGF) in a statement on Sunday.

With the threat of a third wave of the COVID-19 looming in the air, the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, has put Lagos State, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and five other states on red alert.

The five other affected states are Plateau, Kano, Rivers, Oyo and Kaduna States.

A statement on Sunday by the Secretary to the Federal Government (SFG) and Chairman of the PSC, Boss Mustapha, said the measure is coming amid fears of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic following the confirmation of the Delta variant of the coronavirus in the country.

In the statement, Mustapha warned other states to increase their “level of preparedness and continue to enforce all COVID-19 protocols.

He also cautioned Nigerians to be careful as they celebrate Eid-el-Kabir on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The statement reads in part:

“Following the confirmation of the Delta variant of COVID-19 and the rising number of infections and hospitalisations in the country, the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC) has put six states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on red alert as part of the preventive measures against a third wave of the pandemic.

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“The states are Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau, and the FCT.

“The PSC shall continue to minimise the risk of importation of variants of concern into the country by strengthening surveillance at all Points of Entry, enforcing extant quarantine protocols and sustaining the current restrictive measures against travellers arriving from India, Brazil, Turkey and South Africa.” Mustapha said.

He also warned Muslim faithful to be cautious as they celebrate the Wf il-Kabir on Tuesday and Wednesday, noting that all open Eid grounds should have multiple entry and exit points with hand washing and temperature checking facilities.

The SGF further advised that the holding capacity of Eid grounds should be reduced to 50 per cent to ensure physical and social distancing, and Eid prayers should not exceed one hour, while also calling for the suspension of all Durbar activities.

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