The Lagos State government has said that its residents must present their COVID-19 vaccination cards to attend social gatherings during the December 2021 festive period.
This was disclosed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in a statement issued on Tuesday amid the outbreak of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
He stated that the state government has received very disturbing information about intending outbound passengers procuring fake Covid test results and/or vaccination cards for travel purposes.
Read: 1 million Covid-19 vaccines wasted in Nigeria last month
What Governor is saying about the new policy
He said, “This is a very worrisome trend for us to note and we are currently working with the NCDC (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control), DSS (Department of State Services) and the Police to investigate and bring to book the criminal gangs involved in this reprehensible activity.
“Our State Mobile Courts will be used to prosecute all those involved in flouting the regulations; as well as those engaged in the fraudulent production of fake covid test results and vaccination certificates.”
On the guidelines for social events and gatherings during the Yuletide season, he added, “All social events must be duly registered to obtain Event Safety Clearance from the Lagos State Safety Commission website prior to holding; and the guidelines set out below must be strictly adhered to.
“Where possible events should be held outdoors and occupancy limit at any event must not exceed 60% of maximum design capacity of the event centre.
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“Every attendee of a social gathering MUST present their Vaccination Cards or digital bar code page showing at least first dose but preferably double dose full vaccination.
“In unvaccinated people, a negative PCR within 72 hours will be an exemption.
“Everybody, irrespective of vaccination status, MUST be subject to Rapid Diagnostic test (Antigen) to be conducted AT THE EVENT VENUE OR within 24hrs prior to the event at designated laboratories. (Request for rapid tests at the venue requires an application through the Safety Commission).
He added that for those under the age of 18 and unvaccinated, their temperature should be checked and persons with high temperature (above 37.5) would be politely turned back and referred to paramedics or the emergency response team on ground.
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“Under 18 years of age are unvaccinated and the above applies.
“Guests and service providers with high temperature (above 37.5) are to be politely turned back and referred to paramedics or the emergency response team on ground.
“All guests and service providers at the event must wear a nose mask or face shield before entry. All guests and service providers must endeavour to wash their hands before entering the venue or use hand sanitisers after which temperature checks should be carried out.
“Hand sanitisers to be positioned at the entry point and different spots within the venue.”
In case you missed it
Recall Nairametrics reported earlier that Federal Government agencies have started the “Operation Show Your COVID-19 Vaccination Card,” a plan to only allow vaccinated Nigerians to enter government buildings, joining states like Kaduna and Delta that already have a similar existing protocol.
Nairametrics reported when the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed the detection of 3 more cases of the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 in Nigeria. The NCDC in a statement said that the newly discovered cases brings the total number of confirmed cases of the Omicron variant detected in Nigeria to 6.
