COVID-19: FG restricts religious gathering to 50 per cent capacity

Ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 has restricted indoor religious gathering to 50 per cent with full compliance to public health measures.

The committee threatened that it might be forced to introduce more restrictions if infections increase. In a statement yesterday in Abuja, PSC Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, lamented that there has been declining compliance to public health social measures.

He reminded Nigerians that the nation was experiencing the fourth wave of COVID19, as new cases rise daily due to “very low vaccination coverage, increased travels and movements, reduced compliance to public health social measures and highly transmissible Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant now circulating in the country.”

The SGF urged Nigerians to avoid non-essential interstate travels during this period, as they increase the risk of infections.

Mustapha encouraged people, who intend to travel, to take a rapid COVID-19 test to confirm status, as many infected persons are asymptomatic.

He appealed to Nigerians to imbibe the culture of citizen’s responsibility and observe existing safety measures to reduce community transmission of the virus during this festive period and avoid activities that involve mass gathering, especially in enclosed scenes.

His words: “The PSC recognises the importance of the Christmas and New Year celebrations for most Nigerians. As we prepare to celebrate with our families and loved ones, it is important that we do so safely by taking the necessary precautionary measures to stop the further spread of COVID-19 in our country.

“Any gathering, in excess of 50 people, should be done in open space with physical distancing. Indoor religious congregation should be limited to 50 per cent capacity with full compliance to public health social measures.

“Face masks and hand sanitisers should be used at all times regardless of vaccination status while in public spaces, seize the opportunity provided by the mass-vaccination campaign to ensure that your family and loved ones receive their COVID-19 vaccines, including the third dose (booster shot) at the nearest vaccination centre.”

According to the SGF, families are advised to limit the number of visitors to their homes and put in place precautionary safety measures.