FG Rules Out Another Total Lockdown Even with Rising COVID-19 Cases
The federal government is not likely to consider another total lockdown as a result of the ravaging coronavirus pandemic in the country.
The Chairman of Presidential Task Force of COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha, who was reacting to fears that the government may consider another total lockdown in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun state in view of the increasing cases of COVID-19 ruled this out.
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja during a regular press briefing on the COVID-19 issues made it clear that government cannot afford to be moving forward and then backward.
He said that government would instead work on strengthening what it has put in place to check the spread of the virus.
He said, ”I have indicated in my first address on this subject that we will study the situation, look at it and see how we are going. And if there is need for review that such will be advised by data, by science, by experiences of other jurisdictions and by the peculiarities of our environment.
”To go back to a total lockdown must be taken into context of what we do desire to achieve after we locked down for about four or five weeks and see how we fare. So, the issue of review might not have that in contemplation because you can’t move forward and begin to move backward again.
”In terms of strategic implementation of our policy, we might not be looking towards that direction, but we might be looking at how to strengthen what we have put in place, how to ensure compliance and all other non-pharmaceutical interventions we have put in place.”
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Thursday announced 681 new cases of COVID-19, saying the total is now 14,554.
The NCDC said 4,494 people have been discharged nationwide and 387 lost their lives.
The Chairman of Presidential Task Force of COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha, who was reacting to fears that the government may consider another total lockdown in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun state in view of the increasing cases of COVID-19 ruled this out.
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja during a regular press briefing on the COVID-19 issues made it clear that government cannot afford to be moving forward and then backward.
He said that government would instead work on strengthening what it has put in place to check the spread of the virus.
He said, ”I have indicated in my first address on this subject that we will study the situation, look at it and see how we are going. And if there is need for review that such will be advised by data, by science, by experiences of other jurisdictions and by the peculiarities of our environment.
”To go back to a total lockdown must be taken into context of what we do desire to achieve after we locked down for about four or five weeks and see how we fare. So, the issue of review might not have that in contemplation because you can’t move forward and begin to move backward again.
”In terms of strategic implementation of our policy, we might not be looking towards that direction, but we might be looking at how to strengthen what we have put in place, how to ensure compliance and all other non-pharmaceutical interventions we have put in place.”
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Thursday announced 681 new cases of COVID-19, saying the total is now 14,554.
The NCDC said 4,494 people have been discharged nationwide and 387 lost their lives.
FOLLOW US
About Post Author
