Kunle Adelabu
-Suspends religious activities indefinitely
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, has revealed that the state has about 44% of the Coronavirus pandemic cases in the country with 7,319 confirmed cases as at midnight on Monday,June 15,2020.
He stated that the rise in cases in the state is expected, adding that the upscale of tests will continue to reveal more cases of COVID-19 that has been ravaging the country.
Sanwo – Olu, who is the Incident Commander in the State, revealed this at the Fifteenth Update on Coronavirus held at the State House in Marina, Lagos, on June 16, 2020.
“As at midnight yesterday, June 15, 2020, Lagos State had recorded a total of 7,319 confirmed cases of Covid-19. Of this number, 1,137 have fully recovered and discharged, while 82 have sadly died, leaving 6,100 active cases under management in the State.
“Our dear State, therefore, continues to be the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, with about 44% of the total number of confirmed cases nationwide.
‘Let me again say that the steady increase in number of confirmed cases is by no means unexpected. Considering that the infection is now very much in our midst, the more we test, the more the number of positive cases that will emerge”.
Sanwo – Olu also gave some cheery news that over 90 percent of the recovered victims would fully recover under supervision.
“The uplifting news is that, based on the statistics emerging from Lagos State, more than 90 percent of the people who test positive will go on to fully recover under supervision, and be discharged”.
In view of the rise in the cases of victims tested positive, the Incident Commander also revealed that the state government would not proceed with the earlier given directive on gradually re-opening of places of worship.
“We have been closely monitoring the situation since then, and have now concluded that we cannot proceed with any form of re-opening for places of worship in Lagos State, until further notice”, Governor Sanwo – Olu stated.
“This is not a decision that we have taken lightly, it is simply in line with our ongoing evaluation of evolving scenarios regarding the course of the infection in Lagos State and the corresponding public health advisory guidelines issued by the experts.
“So, let me say this again: we are now, hereby, suspending, with immediate effect, the plan to re-open religious houses and places of worship in Lagos State, until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, and continue to base our decision-making on data modelling; as well as on the responsibility we have to act in a manner that ensures the protection of all of you the people of Lagos State”, he emphasized.
“Therefore, until further notice, all places of worship in Lagos State will remain closed. Social and events centers, and social clubs, will also remain closed, for now”.
Sanwo – Olu charged Lagosians to take personal responsibility of their safety while assuring them that the state government will continue to discharge its responsibilities by taking protection decision for common good.
“Let me make this clear, that we are now fully in the phase of personal responsibility, regarding this pandemic. This means that, while the Government maintains its responsibility to take protective decisions for the common good, what will ultimately save us all and defeat this virus are the sensible personal decisions that we take on a daily basis”, he charged Lagosians.
He reinstated the need for the use of masks, staying at home when there is no urgent or important need to go out and use of sanitizer among other measures stipulated in curtailing the spread of the deadly virus.
“Decisions to use masks anytime you are out of your house, to avoid non-essential travel, to stay at home when we don’t have any business being outside, to wash or sanitize our hands regularly – these are the simple but necessary steps that will save and protect us all.
“As a Government, we will continue to do everything in our power to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the people, but that can only be effective when the people themselves act responsibly, and do not behave in a manner that undermines public health guidelines and puts the society at risk”.
