The Federal Government, on Thursday, banned overcrowding and large gatherings such as assemblies and visiting days, as schools reopen on Monday.

It also put limitations to class sizes and hostel occupancy and asked the schools to ensure the compulsory wearing of face masks by all students, teachers and workers, as well ensure temperature checks and put hand washing facilities in strategic locations in all schools

The government also asked the school authorities to ensure a constant supply of water and sanitisers, and make available functional health clinics with facilities for isolation and transportation of suspected cases to medical facilities.

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, gave the conditions in a statement by the Director of Press in the Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Bem Goong.

According to him, the decision to maintain the resumption date in the aftermath of “extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders, including state governors, commissioners of education, proprietors and heads of institutions, staff unions and students.”

Adamu told parents and the respective institutions to ensure full compliance with COVID-19 protocols.

The statement read in part, “Sequel to the hint given during the press briefing on January 12, 2021, for the review of the proposed resumption date of January 18, 2021, the Federal Ministry of Education has undertaken a comprehensive appraisal of the situation.

“After extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders, including state governors, commissioners of education, proprietors and heads of institutions, staff unions and students, the consensus is that the resumption date of January 18 should remain, while parents and respective institutions must ensure full compliance with COVID-19 protocols.

“These measures, which are to ensure the safe reopening of schools for academic activities, will be subject to constant review as we urge teachers, school administrators and other stakeholders to ensure strict compliance.”

When asked how the government intends to curtail further spread of the virus with the planned resumption, Adamu school authorities would be asked to ensure strict compliance with existing and fresh guidelines that would be released.

He added, “We shall be warning stakeholders, particularly school authorities to ensure strict compliance with protocols.

“For instance, we will have no choice than to enforce compulsory use of face masks by teachers and students.

“We will also make it clear that we shall be reviewing the situation from time to time after the resumption to take necessary decisions.”

Recall that the United Nations Children’s Fund had called on governments across the world to spare no effort to keep schools open or prioritise them in reopening plans despite the increasing cases of COVID-19.

UNICAL inaugurates COVID-19 task force

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, has inaugurated the COVID-19 Task Force Central Team for the institution ahead of resumption.

The team, which is headed by Dr Kingsley Akaba, has Dr Paul Odey, Dr Leku Odey, Dr Alexander Peter, Dr Bassey Ubi and Mrs Josephine Bisong as members.

While inaugurating the task force, Obi charged members “to coordinate all the terms of reference as established by the Presidential Task Force and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control in the campus.”

She also said the taskforce would oversee the activities of all sub-committees and execution of their goals and report directly to the vice-chancellor’s office on the day-to-day activities of the COVID-19 task force.

Anambra denies Obiano, wife’s alleged COVID-19 infection

There was tension at the Anambra State Government House on Thursday over an alleged COVID-19 mass infection of government officials.

Reports said those infected by the disease included Governor Willie Obiano, his wife, Ebelechukwu, and other top government officials.

The PUNCH had reported that a governor’s aide said Obiano had shunned public functions since Christmas.

But a statement by the media aide to Primus Odili, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Chike Okoli, said the report of COVID-19 infection was cheap blackmail.

“The recent viral post that there has been a coronavirus scare in government house is not only infantile but the height of mischief, obviously driven by envy and jealousy.

“For the records, there’s no such scare in government house. The governor is 100 per cent fine and going about his administrative duties diligently.”

Don’t pick passengers without face masks, Edo warns motorists

The Edo State Government has urged members of the state chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers not to pick passengers who are not wearing face masks.

A member of the Edo State COVID-19 Risk Communication Team, Mrs Irene Uabor, appealed while addressing members of the NURTW, during a sensitisation programme with stakeholders in the transport sector.

She said, “Don’t take any passenger who is not wearing a face mask. If we all practice all the guidelines put in place by the authorities, we will win the war against the deadly disease together.”

The state Vice-Chairman of the NURTW, Mr John Odiase, said the leaders of the union would ensure that members complied with all the guidelines to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The Punch