We’re in 3rd wave of Covid-19 pandemic in Lagos --- Sanwo-Olu
(Nigeria) Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of
Lagos State on Sunday, alerted that the state was potentially in the 3rd wave
of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sanwo-Olu in a statement, said: “It
has become imperative to once again provide you an update on the Coronavirus
pandemic situation in Lagos State, and our ongoing response as a State
Government.
“Starting around the end of March 2021, the second wave of
the COVID-19 pandemic in Lagos State began to wind down, and we began to enjoy
some reprieve from the worst effects of the virus. This allowed us to further
open-up the economy to allow the start of the journey towards full normalcy in
our lives and the pursuit of livelihoods, after what has been a very difficult
year.
“Regrettably, in spite of the hard work and dedicated
efforts towards sustaining the return to normalcy, over the last three months,
we are now finding ourselves at what appears to be the start of a potential 3rd
wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, in Lagos State.
“From the beginning of July, we started to experience a
steep increase in the number of daily confirmed cases, with the test positivity
rate going from 1.1% at the end of June 2021 to its current rate of 6.6% as at
8th of July 2021. The rapid increase within a week gives great cause for
concern. Also, within the last two weeks, the occupancy rate at our isolation
centres increased from an average of 1% to 6%. This is the new and disturbing
reality that now confronts us.
“But we must not be demoralized by this. We must instead
resolve that we will not leave any stone unturned in our bid to effectively
mitigate the third wave of this pandemic in Lagos State. As you all know, Lagos
has been the epicentre of the pandemic since the start, and the way we manage it
here has a significant impact and reverberating effect on the national outlook
and outcomes. So, Nigeria is counting on us in Lagos State to be resolute in
our stand against the virus.
“We will continue to test aggressively. We will also focus
on sequencing the samples we are collecting to ensure we are detecting and
keeping track of the different variants in circulation. It is only by testing
and sequencing comprehensively that we can collect the data required for
informed decision-making.
Epidemiology Update
“As at the 7th of
July 2021, Lagos State had recorded a total of 60,202 confirmed cases of
COVID-19. Of this number, 55,135 have recovered in-community and 770 are
currently being managed actively in-community. Over the course of managing the
COVID-19 pandemic, about 4,382 patients have been admitted into our various
COVID-19 care centres in Lagos: with 357 registered fatalities. In all we have
tested 563,679 samples in Lagos State since the pandemic started. Today we have
30 accredited testing centers: 26 private and 4 public health laboratories in
the State, a significant improvement in capacity over the course of the past
year.
Accredited Health Facilities
“Let me make it clear that outside of the health facilities
accredited for the management and treatment of COVID-19, and the EKOTELEMED
program, no other health facilities, whether public or private, are permitted
to admit or attend to COVID-19 patients.
“The Lagos State Health Facility Monitoring and
Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) is providing monitoring and surveillance and has
been mandated to apply heavy fines and other punitive measures on all
facilities found to be in violation of this.
“Lagosians should desist from patronizing non-accredited
COVID-19 treatment centers, and proprietors should also ensure that all
suspected and confirmed cases are referred appropriately.
Vaccine Distribution and Access
“One of the major tenets of our mitigation strategy against
the 3rd wave is our vaccination campaign, similar to other parts of the world.
It has been observed by various credible studies that those that have received
their vaccines have demonstrated significant resistance to the effects of the
virus, with fewer associated complications and deaths.
“As of today, however, the percentage of residents of Lagos
who have received two (2) doses of the vaccine stands at a mere 1%. We
recognise that this is not adequate, and given the imminent third wave, and our
priority to reduce COVID-19 related deaths, we are exploring all avenues
possible to ramp up access to vaccination so as to reach our herd immunity
target of at least 60% COVID-19 vaccination coverage of the population of Lagos
State. We are confident that we will be getting a second batch of vaccines very
soon, to kick-start the second phase of vaccinations.
Travel Protocols for in-Bound Passengers
“Between 8th May 2021 and 7th July 2021, a total of 50,322
passengers of interest arrived in Lagos via the Murtala Mohammed Airport. Of
the 50,322 passengers, 18 percent could not be reached by EKOTELEMED because of
the provision of either wrong numbers or wrong Nigerian contact details to be
reached on.”
“It is the responsibility of passengers to ensure they
provide the right details for us to reach them for proper monitoring. Going
forward, passengers that do not provide the right details, including a phone
number they can be reached for monitoring and an address for isolation, will
face serious sanctions including fines and imprisonment according to our Lagos
State Coronavirus Law of 2021.
Sanctions Against Quarantine Defaulters
“As dictated by the Presidential Steering Committee on
COVID-19 (PSC), passengers from red-listed countries (India, South Africa,
Brazil and Turkey) are required to observe mandatory isolation. So far, we have
successfully isolated 2,386 passengers in Lagos State. Of this number, 15% have
absconded.
“The following sanctions are being recommended and have
already been meted out to defaulters:
● For Foreigners: Revocation of their Permanent Residency,
and deportation; and
● For Nigerians: Prosecution to the full extent of the Lagos
State COVID-19 Law.
Religious Activities
“Greater vigilance is required at this time in our Churches
and Mosques and other places of religious worship. Even as we are pleased that
religious houses are now open for worship, after the lengthy closures of 2020,
we must not allow ourselves to be carried away by the illusion that all is now
back to normal. This is especially critical, as Sallah approaches, in a little
over a week from now.
“The festivities will no doubt bring people together in
large numbers and create conditions that can sadly cause the spread of the
Coronavirus. We must not allow this to happen.
“For this reason, we are mandating full compliance with all
protective protocols. Compulsory use of masks in all public places, Social
distancing, Temperature checks, Provisions for hand-washing and sanitizers, and
a maximum of 50 percent occupancy in enclosed spaces.
Resisting Pandemic Fatigue
“Whilst both the Federal and State Governments have a huge
role to play in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the responsibility of
managing the third wave ultimately belongs to all of us.
“Without the cooperation of the public at large, we stand
the risks of losing both lives and livelihood, on a devastating scale.
Therefore, I would like to once again reiterate that this is not the time to
get tired or complacent. Instead, we must be re-energized to battle this
invisible and seemingly relentless enemy.
“After almost 18 months of daily confronting this virus, it is understandable that many are tired and want their old, pre-pandemic lives to return. Unfortunately, we do not have a choice in this regard, and fatigue is not an option. We cannot afford to be tired, frustrated or distracted.
“The enemy is formidable - and opportunistic. It will only
go as far as we allow it. Having triumphed over the first and second waves of
the pandemic, we must now find within ourselves new reserves of energy to quell
this emerging third wave before it snowballs out of control. Let me assure us
all that victory over COVID-19 is much closer today than at any other point in
our recent history. But we must persevere to see this victory. We must maintain
our vigilance even as we ramp up the vaccination coverage.
“At this point, I would like to thank all the members of the
Incident Command Structure for their resilience in the management of this
never-ending pandemic, and also the Federal Government, through the
Presidential Steering Committee, for all their support and collaboration.
“Lagos State will continue to work with all our partners,
across government and the private sector, to ensure that we permanently triumph
over this virus. We will not rest until this is achieved.”
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