Covid 19: Schools, Restaurants, Worship Centers to Remain Closed.

Federal offices nationwide can open from May 4 for workers to resume work, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has said.

The resumption will be based on specific grade levels, the PTF explained.

Also, the banking, construction, manufacturing sectors, as well as food processing companies, will be allowed to open from Monday, the PTF further said.

The PTF noted that banks will be allowed to open from 8 am to 2 pm daily while observing the new restrictions put in place by the government.

National Coordinator of the PTF on Covid-19, Dr. Aliyu Sani stated these during the daily briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 pandemic.

The national coordinator said that temperature test, respiratory hygiene and restriction of gathering of not more than 20 persons will be introduced.

Sani said the task force would be engaging with state governments to make sure that the PTF have a common approach to the opening of offices.

He said: “For government offices, government staff will be allowed to resume from the 4 of May but it will be based on specific grade levels and specific days so that we can reduce the amount of congestion that we might have in our government offices and we will be discussing further with state governments to make sure that we have a common approach to this. “Banks will be allowed to open but there will be restriction in the opening hours to between 8am to 2pm and together with all the other preventive measures I have already mentioned. “In addition to this, from the point of agriculture and rural development, companies involved in food processing can commence operation. “In construction sites, critical road will be allowed but waivers will be provided by state governments to enable movement. “For the manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries, we will encourage shift work and limiting staff to only 30 to 50 per cent to maintain social distancing and pharmacy shops may remain open overnight.” Sani, however, said that restrictions on social gatherings remain suspended pending review of the new measures put in place by the government.

He said that restaurants and schools remain closed.