The Lagos State Government has announced the approval of churches and mosques to resume full services in the state. This disclosure was made by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during a press briefing on Saturday, September 19, 2020, in Lagos.
According to a monitored media report, the government said mosques can hold their prayers 5 times daily, while churches can also resume weekly services. This is against the initial announcement, where worship centres were restricted to just one gathering weekly, after they were allowed to reopen on August 7, 2020, following the lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease.
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Sanwo-Olu, however, warned that all safety protocols that had been announced by the government must be strictly adhered to.
The Governor said, ‘’We must not forget that the coronavirus pandemic is still very much with us, and we must, therefore, strive to prioritize the safety of all our children, teachers, parents, and the entire society.’’
The state a few weeks ago, allowed the gradual re-opening of places of worship centres as lockdowns eased after the shutdown following the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.
The governor urged Lagosians to continue to act responsibly and maintain the required levels of hygiene following the full reopening of worship centres.
He said, “The only way to avoid this is to continue to act responsibly: maintain the required levels of hygiene, through regular handwashing and use of sanitizers, wear masks in all public places, avoid non-essential public gatherings, and maintain the prescribed levels of physical distancing at all times”.
The total infections in the country have now risen to 56,956, with 48,305 patients recovered and 1,094 deaths recorded.
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At the onset of the virus in Nigeria, Lagos became the epicentre, gapping other states with its caseload despite frantic efforts to curb the spread.
However, in recent times, other states such as Plateau have started to witness a surge with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 stating that it might become the new epicentre in the country