NATIONAL: Stay indoors, stay safe, FG tells aged, vulnerable citizens

* Curfew hours may be extended to curtail the spread

THE National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19,  Dr Sani Aliyu, has urged Nigerians to not let their guards in the battle against the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic.

Aliyu stressed that all aged people who are more vulnerable to the infection need to confine themselves to the comfort of their homes and strictly adhere to Covid-19 protocols.

He particularly urged those above 60 or have diabetes and other core morbidities to avoid crowded places.

Aliyu disclosed that the Federal Government is considering the extension of the curfew hours as part of its measures to stem the tide of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

He, however, said the Federal Government was in talks with the state governments on the review of the curfew.

The PTF coordinator also sensitised health workers  not to take with levity patients who present persistent fever “especially if there are respiratory symptoms or shortness of breath; it is possibly going to be COVID.”

He said, “While we are not in (another) lockdown yet, it is in your best interest if you fall within this group to lock down because now is the time to actually keep away from the general public and mass gatherings.”

 While answering questions from journalists, Aliyu noted that Nigeria was one of the few countries that had a two-test policy, which was introduced in September.

He stated, “Nigeria is one of the few countries that have had a double testing policy. When the problem arose with the UK and later on South Africa, a lot of countries temporarily banned flights from the UK. And what did they do? They implemented the very same policy that we had from more than four months and running.”

Aliyu said the decision for a fresh lockdown did not rest with the PTF but all Nigerians.

He said, “On lockdown, the decision for lockdowns is in whose hands? It is not in the hands of the PTF, it is in the hands of all of us the general public, because who wants to have a lockdown? “

At the peak of the first wave of the pandemic the Buhari administration had in April 2020 declared an 8pm-to-6am curfew. It was eventually relaxed to 10pm-4am and later 12am to 4am, which still exists to date.