President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the extension of the lockdown in Kano State by two weeks, Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this on Monday.
However, for the rest of the country, the Federal Government has announced an extension of the gradual easing of the lockdown, saying the time is not ripe for it to relax its containment protocols against the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the daily briefing of the task force in Abuja, Mustapha who is the Secretary to Government of the Federation said, “Mr President has approved the following: The measures, exemptions, advisories, and scope of entities allowed to reopen under phase one of the eased locked down, shall be maintained across the federation for another two weeks effective from 12 00 midnight today (18th May, 2020 to 1st June, 2020);
“Intensifying efforts to ‘tell (communicate), trace (identify) and treat (manage)’ cases;
“Elevating the level of community ownership of non-pharmaceutical interventions;
“Maintain the existing lockdown order in Kano for an additional two weeks;
“Imposition of precision lockdown in states, or in metropolitan/high-burden LGAs, that are reporting a rapidly increasing number of cases, when the need arises. This would be complemented with the provision of palliatives and continued re-evaluation of the impact of the interventions; and Aggressive scale-up of efforts to ensure that communities are informed, engaged, and participating in the response with enhanced public awareness in high-risk states.”
Recall the President had on April 27, announced a “phased and gradual easing” of the lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Ogun states, while declaring a nationwide curfew with effect from May 4.
He also ordered a ban on all inter-state movements and a total lockdown in Kano State.
