JUST IN: Buhari Extends ‘Gradual Ease Of Lockdown', Approves New Measures - PTF

The Federal Government has directed the extension of the gradual relaxation of lockdown till June 1.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this during the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 briefing on Monday.

Boss Mustapha said the president took the decision based on the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force

He added that the guidelines earlier issued for relaxing the lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and the federal capital territory (FCT) will be maintained for the next two weeks, after which there will be another review.

He listed six steps approved by Buhari as follows:

• The measures, exemptions, advisories and scope of entities allowed to reopen under phase one of the eased locked down, shall be maintained across the federation for another two weeks effective from 12 00 midnight today (18th May, 2020 to 1st June, 2020).

• Intensifying efforts to “tell (communicate), trace (identify) and treat (manage)’ cases;

• Elevating the level of community ownership of non-pharmaceutical interventions;

• Maintain the existing lockdown order in Kano for an additional two weeks;

• Imposition of precision lockdown in states, or in metropolitan/high-burden LGAs, that are reporting a rapidly increasing number of cases, when the need arises. This would be complemented with the provision of palliatives and continued re-evaluation of the impact of the interventions; and

• Aggressive scale up of efforts to ensure that communities are informed, engaged and participating in the response with enhanced public awareness in high risk states.”