The Lagos State government is to commence the enforcement of wearing of face mask in public places in the state as from next week begin.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said this on Monday during a media briefing on the update on coronavirus (COVID-19) in the state at the State House, Marina, Lagos
According to Governor Sanwo-Olu, over one million of locally-made face mask have been contracted out to tailors locally and will be distributed during the week.
“From next week, we are going to be enforcing wearing of face mask in public places. Over a million has been commissioned to tailors and will be distributed during the week,” the governor said.
The governor, who disclosed that the state had recorded 14 deaths, however, urged the citizens not to panic, adding: “It’s important we do not panic, this pandemic will be over and sizeable number of our people will get well.”
This was as he warned against discriminating against those who had been treated and discharged, saying they were free to relate with their families and community.
He, therefore, urged those feeling symptoms of COVID-19 to present themselves for test, disclosing that two more isolation centres at Landmark Centre and Gbagada would be opened on Tuesday.
“The society should desist from stigmatisation. Once certified negative, they are free to join their families and society. We are hoping to open two isolation centres at Landmark Centre and Gbagada,” Sanwo-Olu added.
“We have seen increased of infected people from our neighbouring countries. We have a responsibility to take care of them and they are in our isolation centre. The increased in numbers is evidence of our strategy to rip off the virus,” he further added.
“We have seen that people that are suspected to have the virus have declined to present themselves or going to private hospitals. The isolation centres are not death centres,” he assured.
On security, the governor said the government would continue with “show of force day and night,” adding: “Our people should be able to go to bed with their two eyes closed.”
He also warned against spreading of fake news, urging the media to verify information before they were shared.
He advised Lagos residents to wear locally made face masks stressing that surgical facemasks or N95 are strictly for health officials only.
Also at the briefing, the governor vowed to prosecute victims of COVID-19 who lie to health professionals about their travel history.
He said the state executive has resolved to prosecute such people, adding that four of them have been identified and will be used as scapegoats.
