COVID-19: FG monitors level of compliance with advisories

.Directs security agencies to ensure strict compliance to advisories

.Says, violation of lay down rules portends dangerous trend

.Set to strengthen enforcement collaboration with states

Worried over the continued disobedience to rules and regulations put in place to contain the spread of Coronavirus disease, the Federal Government has intensified the monitoring of the level of compliance with the advisories and guidelines already issued.

This is just as the government on Friday directed the security agencies to ensure strict compliance to advisories adopted.

Speaking during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 outbreak response in Abuja, the Secretary to the government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, lamented that the flagrant violations to the rules by Nigerians portend a very dangerous trend.

He expressed worry that the present community transmission phase been witness currently is taking a toll on the country with the highest recorded cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.

To this end, the SGF said that it has concluded plans to strengthen enforcement in collaboration with the states.

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He said: “All exempted persons including journalists and medical personnel should always carry a verifiable and authentic means of identification.

“Security agencies should improve monitoring of their personnel and interaction with the citizenry.

“Citizens should respect the sacrificial role of security agencies and desist from assaulting security personnel and damaging security infrastructure”, he said.

On the lack of sufficient bed space in some isolation centres in some states, the SGF said that the PTF is examining the peculiar circumstances as well as modify strategies for care management.

“We have also received Reports from the States, which suggests that the treatment centres are running out of bed spaces.

“As we assess the situation, the PTF shall also begin to examine our peculiar circumstances, modify the strategies for care management and consider viable alternatives, where necessary.

“At the appropriate time, the guidelines and protocols shall be unfolded”.

On his part, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said that the current challenge revolve around repatriated Almajiris.

While disclosing that most of them have tested positive to the disease, Ehanire added that the ministry has deployed a multi-sectoral technical team on a fact-finding mission to the states.

“Calm has been restored in Gombe State Isolation centres.

“FMOH this morning deployed a multi-sectoral technical team on a fact-finding mission to Jigawa State at the request of the State Executive Governor.

“The challenges in Jigawa revolve around repatriated Almajiris, of whom many have tested positive for COVID-19”.

He added that new efforts will be made to engage Kogi State authorities for resolution of differences in the state.