The Federal Government on Wednesday released guidelines for the implementation of the lockdown policy approved by President Muhammadu Buhari to curtail the spread of coronavirus in the country.
Among the new decision is to permit the opening and operation of markets, supermarkets and food stores in Lagos, Abuja FCT and Ogun, where a lockdown has been imposed.
National Co-ordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Aliyu Sani, said:
“For markets, only shops and stalls selling food and groceries shall be allowed to open to customers between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.”
Supermarkets and food stores, are allowed to open between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.
All owners and managers must screen staff and customers before entry.
“On arrival, all staff must be screened for a high temperature and all those found to have a high body temperature above 38, will be denied entry and advised to seek immediate medical attention.
“All deliveries for supplies and products for these supermarkets must be made between the hours of 5:00 am and 9:00 am,” Sani added.
He said at no point in time must the total number of customers inside each store exceed a third of the store’s total capacity.
Sani urged the stores to ensure that all shelves, aisles and stores are cleaned and disinfected after closure at 4pm.
Then by 6:00 pm, staff are conveyed back to their homes.
According to the document released by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 In Abuja on Wednesday, as part of the measures to enforce social distancing and limit the spread of the coronavirus, the Federal Government has decided that schools, organisations and businesses in FCT, Lagos and Ogun states will close effective from 30 March for an initial period of two weeks.
It explained that for the period of the lockdown, every person would be confined to his or her place of residence unless strictly for the purpose of performing an essential service, obtaining an essential good or service, or seeking medical care.
It said all borders linking the two states and FCT to the rest of the country would be shut during the period of the lockdown, except for the transportation of persons on essential duties, food, fuel, manufactured goods or donated relief items.
Other measures are:
Mass gathering is prohibited, except for funeral services as guided by infection prevention and control regulations, for which social distancing rules apply and crowds are limited to not more than 20 persons.
Movement between and within the affected states and FCT is restricted except for workers involved in the delivery of authorised essential services, duties, food and goods.
Retail shops and malls must be closed except where essential goods are sold. Shops and malls that are open must enforce social distancing and hygiene measures in line with issued guidelines.
Any business or organisation providing essential goods and services must identify the staff who will perform those services.