Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has warned Nigerians of an oncoming fourth wave of the coronavirus epidemic, claiming that the positive rate indicates that the country may soon see a spike in infections.
The governor blamed the incident on Nigerians' failure to follow preventive measures, according to a statement he personally signed on Tuesday.
According to the governor, the state reported 78,564 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of December 5, with 71,977 certified to have recovered in the community and 612 still being handled actively in the community.
"Most of the world's continents – including Africa – are now suffering a fourth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic," he claimed. Unfortunately, Lagos State is not immune, as we are also witnessing the start of a fourth wave, with a current positive rate of 6%."
According to the governor, the new positive rate is up from 0.1 percent in the middle of November 2021.
Mitigation techniques
The governor stated that the state will do all possible to secure Lagos people's safety. He stated that the percentage of state people who had been vaccinated will be boosted from 1.6 percent to 30 percent.
"I have explicitly authorized the Lagos State Ministry of Health to distribute eight million pills to four million citizens by December 25th, 2021 as part of the Count Me In the campaign," Mr. Sanwo-Olu added. To boost vaccination availability, we've implemented a rigorous plan that includes the private sector.
"We're introducing 30 private priority locations for anyone who wishes to be vaccinated in a quiet setting." While vaccination at public centers is free, private centers charge an administration fee (N4,500 per dosage and N6,000 for two shots). Please visit the " to register for the vaccine.
The governor also stated that the state would issue laws in the next few days to make vaccination uptake easier in order to attain desired herd immunity.
Social gatherings guidelines
The governor has stated that all social gatherings must be properly registered in order to acquire "Event Safety Clearance" from the state's safety commission ahead of the Yuletide season.
Meanwhile, the governor has stated that anybody attending a public activity in the state must display their vaccination cards or a digital bar code page that shows they have had at least the first dosage, but ideally a double dose complete vaccine.
The rules also said that the 'occupancy limit' at any event must not exceed 60% of the event centers' maximum design capacity, and that "a negative PCR within 72 hours will be an exemption" for unvaccinated persons wanting to attend events.
"Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, must undergo a Rapid Diagnostic Test (Antigen) at the event venue or at designated laboratories within 24 hours after the event." (Applications for fast tests at the venue must be submitted to the Safety Commission)," the governor explained.
For guests under the age of eighteen
Guests under the age of 18 are required to wear nose masks or face shields before entering public events in the state, according to the governor, who also stated that "guests and service providers with high temperature (above 37.5) are politely turned back and referred to paramedics or the emergency response team on ground."
The governor also encouraged event center service providers to supply hand sanitizers at entry points and other locations within the venues.
Protocols for Travel
The governor stated that the state would guarantee that the Nigerian government's new travel standards were followed, and that anybody who broke the laws would be prosecuted.
"On this basis, we will begin prosecuting people who refuse to submit to these required tests by placing their passports on a one-year blacklist."
"We'd do that in collaboration with the Presidential Steering Committee." Furthermore, any foreigners who break the restrictions might face deportation. As a result, I urge all inbound travelers to complete their compulsory tests as soon as possible at any of the private laboratories under the Lagos State Private Laboratory Consortium," the governor stated.
The governor also issued a warning to people who are buying phony vaccination cards. Those apprehended will face charges in the state's mobile courts, he added.
