Our Reporter
The Lagos State Government has urged residents to reduce all forms of public and social gatherings as part of preventive measures to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus disease in the State.
Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, who stated this Wednesdat while giving updates on COVID19 in Lagos, advised that citizens should observe and practise the principle of ‘Social Distancing’ which is a public health strategy to slow down the spread of contagious diseases such as COVID19.
In keeping with the advisory on ‘Social Distancing’, Abayomi tasked citizens to keep a long possible distance between people, avoid body contacts like shaking of hands and hugs, avoid social and public gatherings and observe good respiratory hygiene.
“During this period, we should keep long possible distance between people, avoid body contact, handshakes and we should only attend necessary social gatherings. Make sure you and the people around you follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or handkerchief when you cough or sneeze”, Abayomi said.
Emphasising the importance of self-isolation in curbing the spread of the virus, the Commissioner noted that mandatory self-isolation and self-reporting is a civic responsibility that should be carried out by anyone who recently returned from high-risk countries and persons with symptoms such as cough, fever and difficulty in breathing.
He appealed to citizens to report suspicious cases to the Ministry through the Toll-Free Line – 08000CORONA or any of the emergency helplines including – 0805978886, 08035387653, 08028971864, 08023169485,08033565529 and 08052817243.
While giving updates on the management of identified cases in the State, Abayomi disclosed that Lagos has four new confirmed cases of COVID19 bringing the total number of positive cases in the State to seven.
He explained that the four persons who tested positive have been admitted at the Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, stressing that the patients include a Nigerian woman with her six-week-old baby who returned through Virgin Atlantic Airline VS411, a Nigerian man who also came into the country on the same aircraft and an American who came into the country from the Benin Republic through the land border on the 6th of March.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso who was also at the press briefing urged members of the public not to panic as the State Government is in control of the situation.
Noting that the State Government will continue to respond swiftly and take necessary actions to contain the spread of the disease, the Commissioner advised citizens to comply with government instructions and public advisories, stressing that adherence to all instructions will help the government curtail the spread of the virus and prevent escalation.
Omotoso added that policies on public and social gatherings will be reviewed in the interest of public safety.
