Sanwo-Olu Permits Worship Centres to Resume Full Services, Gives Cinemas, Gyms Go Ahead to Open

Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has permitted churches and mosques in the state to resume full services.

He said mosques can hold their prayers five times daily while churches can also commence weekly services.

Worship centres were restricted to one gathering weekly after they were allowed to reopen following lockdown to check coronavirus in the nation.

The Governor also said public and private schools can resume fully on Monday, September 21, 2020.

The State government has also given the go ahead for cinemas and gyms to reopen as soon as they comply with all necessary safety measures.

However, bars, nite clubs, spars, event centres and such others remain closed until October when the government will make pronouncement concerning their opening.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave the green light on Saturday at a press briefing on the 18th update on covid-19 which took place at the Lagos House, Marina, Lagos.

The governor said cinemas and gyms are to operate at 33 per cent capacity which is one third of their capacity.

For cinemas and gyms, Sanwo-Olu said: “If they have gotten safety protocol clearance, from tomorrow, Sunday, they can resume.

“Their resumption is only at 33 per cent of their capacity, meaning its only one-third capacity that you have at the various cinemas, you must leave two seats invented,” Sanwo-Olu said, adding it is the agreement with the operators.

Sequel to the collapse of Excel College, Ejigbo on Saturday, the said directives have been given to the minute of physical planning and urban development to conduct structural integrity test on all school buildings in the state above three floors from next week.

With the redemption of international flights, the governor said, all incoming passengers must self isolate for seven days after which they will do the necessary test.

“We are constantly expanding testing capacity to cope with the impending increase in the number of tests, especially following the re-opening of the International Airport.

“Our status as home of the busiest International Airport in Nigeria comes with added responsibilities to ensure that the pandemic situation in Lagos State is not complicated by additional cases of imported infections.

“All incoming travelers to Lagos State must be certified by testing to be COVID-19-free before and after arrival in the State. We encourage outbound travelers to also do a Covid-19 test 72 hours before departure to avoid inconveniences at their respective destinations.

“Following the opening of Nigeria’s International airspace, the Lagos State Government has been working closely with the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and the Port Health Authority to monitor all flights arriving and departing Lagos State”.