COVID-19: Lagos announces closure of schools

The Lagos State Government has announced the closure of all public and private schools in the state to checkmate the spread of Coronavirus disease.

The closure takes effect from Monday, March 23 as the state yesterday recorded additional four cases of the pandemic disease which originated from China.

The announcement was made in s statement by Folashade Adefisayo, the commissioner of Education in the state.

“As part of the preventive measures against the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Lagos State Government is closing down all public and private schools from Monday, 23rd March 2020,” the statement read.

“The move becomes necessary to prevent our children and their teachers from getting more vulnerable to the pandemic.

“It is important for parents to ensure that their children practise ‘social distancing’ while at home, wash their hands regularly or use hand sanitizers and observe high standards of personal hygiene. Children should be encouraged to remain at home.

“The closure is not intended to create panic but to arrest the spread of the disease, which has become a global threat.

“The Incident Command Centre, headed by the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is the Incident Commander, will continue to trace all contacts of the identified cases and encourage anyone who has information about suspected cases to report to the nearest hospital or call the emergency telephone numbers 08023169485, 08033565529, 08052817243 and 08023401214,” it added.

This is coming after the state government placed an immediate temporary ban on all religious gathering with over fifty persons in attendance.

Similarly, The federal government has also shut down orientation camps of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) nationwide to check the spread of the virus. Entry restrictions has also been placed on travellers coming into the country from 13 countries.