COVID-19: Federal government reviews curfew, ban on religious activities, domestic flights

The Federal Government, on Monday, announced an adjustment to the overnight curfew imposed on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and Ogun State.

According to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, the curfew will now be effective from 10pm to 4am as against the 8pm to 6am initially announced by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday April 27.

The government, however, said the ban on large gatherings of more than 20 people remains in place.

This is coming as the country’s confirmed cases of COVID-19 spiked to more than 10,000 on Sunday night. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), there are now 10,162 cases in the country as of Sunday May 31. This shows Nigeria recorded over 8,000 new cases during the month, on May 1, the total number of confirmed cases stood at 2,170.

The Special Assistant to the President on Digital Media, Tolu Ogunlesi, announced the new guidelines of the PTF, in a series of tweets on Monday afternoon.

He listed the following new guidelines:

1. Nationwide curfew remains in place, timing now 10pm—4am.

2. Full opening of financial sector – normal working hours

3. Restricted opening of places of worship, (regular church and mosque services ONLY), to be based on State Government protocols.

4. Interstate travel remains prohibited except for goods &essential travel

5. Gathering of more than 20 persons remains prohibited; outside of workplaces + religious services.

6. Aviation Industry requested to start developing protocols for domestic flights to possibly resume from June 21.

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7. Hotels may reopen Restaurants outside of hotels must remain closed for eat-in—TAKEOUT ONLY

8. Bars, gyms, cinemas, nightclubs, parks closed until further evaluation

9. All schools to remain closed until further evaluation Offices maintain 2m physical distancing + 75% max capacity.

10. Guidelines to be implemented/enforced by State Governments: All permitted openings (hotels, religious services etc.) to maintain non-pharmaceutical interventions (masks, sanitizers/handwashing, 2m distancing, capacity limits, etc.)

11. June 21 opening for domestic flights is TENTATIVE. Certain conditions have to be fulfilled between now & then, explains Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika.

– Aircraft have to be good and safe to fly (checks/maintenance) – necessary Recertification + medicals for pilots/crew.