By Oziegbe Okoeki
Lagos State Government has vowed it will begin enforcement of wearing of face mask in public faces from next week, 9News Nigeria has learnt.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced this on Monday at the 7th briefing on COVID-19 at the State House, Marina, Lagos.
The governor said one million of locally made face mask have been contracted to tailors and will be distributed during the week.
On enforcement of face masks, the Governor said: “From next week, we are going to be enforcing wearing of face mask in public places. Over a million has been commissioned to tailors and will be distributed during the week. Its important we do not panic. This pandemic will be over and sizeable number of our people will get well.”
Giving updates, Sanwo-Olu said: “On Sunday April 19, we saw the highest daily increase, nationally and in Lagos State. Lagos saw 70 new cases, taking our total tally to 379. Of this newly confirmed 70 cases, 8 originated from our neighboring state. Of the total number of confirmed cases, we have 264 active cases with 93 having been discharged thus far; and 14 fatalities recorded.
The Govenor however appealed to residents not to panic because of the high figure, saying that the “increase in numbers we are seeing is evidence of the success of our evolving strategy of ramping up testing by going into local communities. You may have heard that we have recently set up sample collection centers across our 20 Local Government Areas.
“The goal of this expanded testing is to take testing closer to the people, by making it easier for those who fall into the ‘case definition’ to have their samples collected.
“As we implement these strategies, and take testing deeper into our neighborhoods and communities, we expect that we will see more positive cases. I must use this opportunity to commend all the teams who are carrying out this active community case search.
The governor also disclosed that about 67 Nigerians, who returned through the Seme border and were quarantined at Badagry isolation centre, have all tested negative.
“Conversely, we also had a second batch of 23 returnees through the Seme Border; of which two have tested positive and have been moved to an isolation center.”
“I should also mention that we are in the process of reviewing applications from private hospitals who have expressed an interest in being certified as a covid-19 bio-medical facility. This process is ongoing and will be concluded at the appropriate time through our HEFAAMA Board.”
The governor also warned against discriminating against those who have been treated and discharged, saying they are free to relate with their families and community.
He urged those feeling the symptoms of the virus to present themselves for test, adding that two more isolation centres at Landmark Centre and Gbagada, will be opened on Tuesday
“We have seen increase of infected people from our neighboring countries. We have a responsibility to take care of them and they are in our isolation centre. The increase in numbers is evidence of our strategy to rip off the virus.
“We have seen that people that are suspected to have the virus have declined to present themselves or going to private hospitals. The isolation centres are not death centres,” he said.
“The society should desist from stigmatisation. Once certified negative, they are free to join their families and society. We are hoping to open two isolation centres at Landmark Centre and Gbagada,” Sanwo-Olu added.
