By Ade Jacobs
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos has made face mask compulsory for everyone entering public, private establishments in the state.
The state governor made this known on Thursday, during his first appearance after 14 days self-isolation due to coronavirus infection.
Narrating his experience, Sanwo-Olu said: “COVID-19 is real.” He said the state now records 18 per cent daily positive results, urging residents to join in the effort to tame the virus by strictly adhering to the public health guidelines.
He said: “Fellow Lagosians, let me sound this note of warning again, as I have done from the onset of this pandemic, COVID-19 is real. It is here with us, and it is not a respecter of anyone, or social class, religious belief, or partisan affiliation. Not only is the virus here with us, this second wave we are currently seeing is proving to be more ambitious than the first wave.
“We are seeing infection figures that are surpassing what we saw at the peak of the first wave, and, just like then, Lagos remains the epicentre. As a densely-populated city, and a centre of international trade and commerce, this is not surprising in any way. But, it is also the reason we need to exercise an abundance of caution in this period.”
His government, he said, will not relent until it has successfully contained the second wave of the pandemic, noting that the state has started to raise the capacity of isolation centres and general hospitals by installing Oxygen Kiosks, which are needed for treatment of COVID-19 patients with compromised respiratory tracts.
Sanwo-Olu said six Oxygen Kiosks out of the ten proposed in the first phase would be unveiled next week.
He said the current health emergency would not permit public gatherings and crowding, especially in Yuletide when religious centres would be holding services and vigils.
He directed worship centres to suspend all night services, including vigils and crossover events, warning that the Federal Government-imposed curfew between midnight and 4am would be enforced.
He said: “All over the world, the Christmas period is associated with gathering, merriment and traveling, which all, sadly, contribute to the spread of the virus. We must now seek to minimise as much of these activities as we can, at this time. Let this Christmas be a period of sober reflection.
“The quicker we are able to tame this raging virus, through responsible behaviour, the higher the likelihood that we will enjoy a 2021 that is not as restrictive and challenging as 2020. By acting responsibly, we are not doing only ourselves a favour, we are doing other people a favour as well, especially those among us who are elderly or medically vulnerable.”
Meanwhile, the state government has directed all in-bound international passengers arriving the country through Lagos to subject themselves to COVID-19 test on the seventh day of their arrival.