The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, on Monday, decried the nationwide non-compliance with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19’s guidelines for gradual reopening of the economy.
Ihekweazu who stated this during the task force press briefing in Abuja, warned that President Muhammadu Buhari, could restore the lockdown if the guidelines were not observed and there was a surge in coronavirus cases.
The President had, on March 30, imposed a two-week lockdown on the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Ogun states, but at the expiration of the first lockdown on April 13, he extended it by another 14 days.
In his broadcast to the nation on April 27, Buhari said phased and gradual easing of the lockdown would begin on May 4 (yesterday). He also imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on the nation.
Besides banning interstate movements, the President imposed a total lockdown on Kano State, which had witnessed a spike in COVID-19 cases.
Guidelines on gradual reopening of the economy issued by the PTF a few days after the presidential address mandate anyone in public spaces to use non-medical face masks.
They also prohibit interstate travels, apart from for essential services. The guidelines ban gathering of more than 20 people outside of a workplace.
Commercial vehicles are only allowed to operate outside the curfew hours and should practise social distancing in the number of their
It was however observed in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun states on Monday that people did not observe the PTF guidelines, including social distancing.
Although banks limited the number of people that entered their premises, customers ignored social distancing as they crowded at bank gates.
