Covid-19: CAN awaits details as FG opens churches, mosques relax curfew.

Second phase of eased lockdown begins today, ends June 29

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Friday Olokor, Leke Baiyewu,

 and Olaleye Aluko

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Monday said the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), had approved the relaxation of restriction placed on  churches and mosques starting from Tuesday (today).

The Chairman of the task force and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, who disclosed this at the PTF press briefing in Abuja, said the reopening of churches and mosques would be based on guidelines issued by the task force and protocols agreed on by states.

But the Coordinator of the PTF, Dr. Sani Aliyu, gave detailed explanations of the recommendations approved by the President.

In its reaction, the Christian Association of Nigeria told the correspondent that it was awaiting the details of the reopening of worship centers.

 Mustapha said the ban on interstate movements, which the President,  in his April 27 broadcast, imposed on the nation, remained. He stated that the second phase of eased lockdown would begin on Tuesday (today) and end on June 29.

Buhari had on April 27 imposed an 8 pm to 6 am curfew on the nation and introduced a total lockdown on Kano State, which recorded a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Mustapha said the PTF on Sunday submitted a report to the President based on its review of the eased lockdown. According to him, the second phase will be guided by “data and science.”

He said the PTF recommendations were, among others, based on the impacts of COVID-19 on the global economy and all national economies as well as pain the lockdown brought upon the poor.

He said the PTF took into consideration the advisory of the World Health Organisation on the need to follow a slow and phased approach that is data-driven.

The chairman said, under the eased lockdown,  Nigeria’s confirmed cases increased, adding that the majority of the confirmed cases were in 20 out of the 774  local government areas in the country.

The second phase of eased lockdown begins Tuesday ends June 29

Mustapha stated, “The PTF submitted its recommendations and the President has approved the following for implementation over the next four weeks spanning June 2 to June 29 subject to review: cautious advance into the second phase of the national response to COVID-19.”

FG rolls out guidelines for the second phase of eased lockdown

According to him, during the second phase, there will be the mobilization of resources at state and local government levels to create public awareness on COVID -19.

He also said there would be a “ban on gatherings of more than 20 people outside of a workplace (and)  relaxation of the restriction on places of worship based on guidelines issued by the PTF and protocols agreed by state governments.”