After four weeks of implementing the selected lockdown on some states as a measure to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Government on Monday caved in to pressure to change its strategy, by stepping up the enforcement of compulsory wearing of face masks in all public places with effect from Monday May 4, 2020.
This was disclosed by President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday during a nationwide broadcast, where he observed that, “Our goal was to develop implementable policies that will ensure our economy continues to function while still maintaining our aggressive response to the Covid-19 Pandemic.”
To achieve a balance between fighting the pandemic and helping to recover an already battered economy, the President announced measures for the gradual opening up of the economy, “selected businesses and offices can open from 9am to 6pm; (with the) Partial and controlled interstate movement of goods and services.”
Other measures adopted to contain the spread of the Covid-19 includes, the imposition of an overnight nationwide curfew from 8pm to 6am with effect from Monday May 4, 2020, maintaining physical distancing and restrictions on social and religious gatherings.
President Buhari while exempting Kano, which has in the past few days recorded hundreds of mysterious deaths, from the revised guidelines said, “the total lockdown recently announced by the State Government shall be
enforced for the full duration. The Federal Government shall deploy all
the necessary human, material and technical resources to support the
State in controlling and containing the pandemic.”
