COVID-19: Lagos State to begin curfew on Sunday to disinfect metropolis

The Lagos State Government disclosed on Friday that there would be a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the state, starting from Sunday in efforts to curb the spread of the Coronavirus.

According to the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in situation update briefing on the Covid-19 virus at the statehouse in Marina, the curfew is to allow the government carry out widespread disinfection of the state. He added that the domestic airport would also be closed.

“I am hereby directing a statewide curfew from 8 pm to 6 am, starting from Sunday until further notice. This is to enable us to carry out comprehensive disinfection of the Lagos Metropolis.

“I am pleased to note that we have taken possession of over 200 disinfecting machines, and starting today, we will be disinfecting all major highways, bus stops, markets, parks, and other public areas.  

“With effect from Sunday, we will be closing the domestic airport in Lagos, the General Aviation Terminal and the MM2. All movements in and out of Lagos through the two domestic terminals will, therefore, be suspended from Sunday for two weeks in the first instance. The only exceptions will be flights carrying essential supplies and those on emergency operations,” Sanwo-Olu said.

(READ MORE: Lagos state to shut down markets)

Meanwhile, the governor also disclosed that movement in and out of Lagos would be restricted from Sunday, as all inter-state motor parks are to be shut for two weeks.

The governor went further to state that he had signed into law the Emergency Coronavirus Pandemic Bill 2020 passed by the House of Assembly, and the law empowers the governor to punish violators of the shutdown order policy within the state.

However, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), COVID-19 case update as of 11:55 pm, March 27, 2020, 11 new cases were confirmed bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 81, 3 persons discharged and 1 death.