The Lagos State Government has warned that from next week, the state would start prosecuting residents seen in public without nose masks as recommended to cushion the spread of COVID-19.
The Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said this on Friday while briefing newsmen on the update of the COVID-19 management in the state.
According to the governor, taking personal responsibility is more important now than ever before.
While emphasising that personal responsibility was not only for self-protection but also for protecting other people including loved ones, Sanwo-Olu said the use of nose masks is mandatory in public places as a strategy to curb the spread of the virus.
He instructs, “We are asking offices, business and commercial premises to refuse entry to persons not wearing masks in line with the Presidential Task Force (PTF) directive on ‘No mask, no entry’.”
The governor, however, warned that defaulters would be charged to court, stressing that the period of grace is over.
With regards to enforcement, he averred, “We are increasing our focus and efforts in this area. As you all know, guidelines and directives are effective only to the extent to which they are complied with by the citizenry”.
Sanwo-Olu further noted that the best laws and guidelines are of no use if they are disregarded by the people for whom they are issued.
With this, he implored Lagosians to adhere to the listed preventive measures. “Dear Lagosians, please continue to wash your hands regularly. As much as possible, maintain social distancing, especially in public places”.
On the part of the government, the governor assured residents that they would continue to do everything possible to protect and uphold the health and wellbeing of the people.
He pledged, “The state government is committed to scaling up testing and isolation capacity and enforcing the guidelines issued.”
“Lagos state belongs to all of us. We must join hands to ensure that we defeat this virus,” he said.
The state’s COVID-19 hotline remains 08000CORONA. “The hotline is available round the clock for people to make reports, seek testing and for infected persons to gain access to counselling and psychological support during the period of isolation and treatment”.
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