There is an uncertainty over the reopening of schools as the Ondo State Government on Wednesday rolled out new COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus and further protect residents of the State from contracting it.
The government says the initial guidelines in circulation is fake and unauthorized.
The Precision NG had earlier reported that tertiary institutions would resume on November 2nd, 2020.
The Chairman of the State Interministerial Committee on Coronavirus and Vice Chancellor, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi made the declaration while presenting the OFFICIALLY-APPROVED UPDATED GUIDELINES FOR COVID-19 PREVENTION IN ONDO STATE to newsmen in Akure.
Fatusi who commended the State Executive Members for their support since the fight against COVID-19, said the COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines is borne out of the need for the people to get back to normal life, though with recommended protocols, to safeguard their lives and family.
The guidelines as released by the Government is listed below:
Read more: Reopen Private Schools If The Govt Ones Are Not Ready – Afe Babalola
A. Religious Services
1. Churches and Mosques can hold their activities any day of the week, but not between the hours of 10.00pm and 4.00am.
1. The duration for any indoor religious service must not be more than 2 hours on any occasion, and all public health guidelines for the prevention of COVID-19 must be adhered to on every occasion;
2. Conventions or similar special programmes can hold for only three (3) consecutive days at a time, but not between the hours of 10.00 pm and 4.00 am on any day; the maximum duration for such programmes must not exceed three hours on any single occasion, and
all public health guidelines for the prevention of COVID-19 must be strictly adhered to on every occasion. Permission need to be sought only in cases where some exceptions to the above-stated provisions are needed. Such applications should be directed to the
office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health/Ag. Commissioner for Health for a written approval;
3. Vigils are totally prohibited until further notice;
4. Special outdoor religious programmes that may involve mass gathering of people such as crusades are still prohibited until further notice;
5. Not more than 50% of the capacity of the building of the Church, Mosque or any other religious body must be filled during any programme;
6. All participants in any church, mosque or any other religious group’s activities must adhere strictly to the following:
a. Wear face masks properly (completely covering the nose and mouth) throughout the programme
b. Wash hands under running water or use hands sanitiser before entering the
venue of the religious programme
c. Maintain adequate social distance of at least 2 metres or 6 feet (about 2 arm’s length) from other people at the programme
7. All Churches, Mosques and other religious bodies must have a dedicated enforcement team in place to continuously monitor and ensure strict adherence to the COVID-19 prevention guidelines throughout each service or programme;
B. Educational Institutions
I. Primary Schools: The state is actively monitoring preparations regarding provision of adequate logistics for COVID-19 prevention for all primary schools, and announcement regarding the date of resumption will be made at an appropriate date.
II. Junior Secondary School (JSS) JSS 3 students will resume according to the following schedule while the date for resumption of other classes shall be announced at an appropriate future date: a. September 7-13: • Preparation by schools to receive students with provisions that meet with the public health guidelines against COVID-19; • Monitoring of schools’ preparations by relevant government agencies and teams.
b. September 14-18: Revision for students in schools.
c. September 19 – October 4: Examinations.
C. Businesses and Workplaces
1. Government Offices
• The current stay-at-home order regarding government workers/civil servants on salary grade level 1-12 is to be maintained till further notice.
• All government offices must make adequate provisions for their staff, clients and visitors to observe the public health measures against COVID-19, including provision of handwashing facilities and/or hand sanitisers, provision of appropriate personal protective equipment to workers in line with their duties; ensure the proper use of face mask all round-the-clock at work; and ensure physical distancing measures including appropriate seating arrangements for staff and visitors;
• All government offices must clearly and boldly display the signs of “No Mask, No Entry; No Mask, No Services” at the entrance of their offices and at strategic points in the workplace;
• All government offices must have a monitoring team in place that would ensure that anyone without mask is denied entry into the business premises or offices, as well as ensure that all staff, clients and visitors adhere strictly to the COVID-19 prevention guidelines at all times, including properly wearing a face mask (to cover both the nose and the mouth) throughout the business hours when in contact with others.
2. Private Businesses
• The Chief Executive or head of each non-governmental establishment is responsible for making appropriate decision regarding work hours, schedule, and mode of work as well as operations of all staff, bearing in mind the need of their office space vis-a-vis the number of staff and type of operations in relation to the need for adequate social distancing as a preventive measure against the spread of COVID-19; • All non-governmental offices must make adequate provisions for their staff, clients and visitors to observe the public health measures against COVID-19, including provision of handwashing facilities and/or hand sanitisers, provision of appropriate personal protective equipment to workers in line with their duties; ensure the proper use of face mask all round-the-clock at work; and ensure physical distancing measures including appropriate seating arrangements for staff and visitors;
• All offices must clearly and boldly display the signs of “No Mask, No entry; No mask, no services” at the entrance of their business premises and at strategic points in the workplace
• All offices must have a monitoring team in place that would ensure that anyone without mask is denied entry into the business premises or offices, as well as ensure that all staff, clients and visitors adhere strictly to the COVID-19 prevention guidelines at all times, including properly wearing a face mask (to cover both the nose and the mouth) throughout the business hours when in contact with others.
3. Markets
Markets can open on any day of the week, but not between the hours of 10.00 pm and 4.00 am. Market operators must comply with and adhere STRICTLY to all the public health guidelines for the prevention of COVID-19 during every market day;
• Observe physical distancing – a space of two metres or 6 feet (two arm’s length between all individuals at all times;
• Provide hand-washing stations with soap and running water or hand sanitisers at the entry spots and strategic points in the market;
• Every trader and store owner must have a bottle of hand sanitiser handy for their use and that of their customers and use as needed;
• All traders and customers must always wear face masks properly (to cover their mouth and nose) in the market;
• All store/shop/stall owners must carry out temperature checks on their workers and customers at the entrance of their stores/stores/stall.
4. Maintenance of the market in a state of optimal environmental hygiene.
5. Market leaders must put in place a dedicated monitoring and enforcement team for COVID-19 prevention in their market to continuously monitor and ensure that the COVID-19 guidelines are fully complied with.
4. Bars/Clubs
1. Bars and Clubs are now allowed to now open and operate daily but not between the hours of 10.00 pm and 4.00 am;
2. Chairs and Tables are to be arranged in a way that makes for social distancing with people separated by at least 2 metres or 6 feet (about 2 arm’s length) from each other;
3. COVID-19 protocols/guidelines must be strongly adhered to by attendees, and include washing of hands under running water or using hand sanitiser, and face masks;
4. Management of each bar/club must have a dedicated enforcement team in place assigned to continuously monitor adherence to the COVID-19 guidelines;
5. Failure to observe the above-given guidelines would lead to closure of such an infringing Bar/Club and the proprietor would be dealt with according to the COVID-19 law of the State.
D. Social Events
I. Social events (Wedding, burial, etc) in Church/Mosque or Reception Halls/Event Centre
1. Permission to hold event must be sought in writing, at least one week, from the Special Adviser on Health/ Ag Commissioner for Health and approval obtained before an event is organised; 2. The number of people to participate in an event must not be more than 50% of the capacity of the Church or Mosque;
3. Every participant must wash his/her hands with soap at the entry point or use hand sanitisers; properly wear a face mask throughout the event and observe social distance;
4. The event should be limited to a period of two hours only;
5. For entertainments, “take-away” packages is advised instead of open-serving of food and drinks to allow guests to keep their face masks on at all times;
6. The event planner and the Church/Mosque conducting the service/programme must put in place an enforcement team that only those who have their face masks properly put on and have washed their hands/used hand sanitisers are allowed into the event. The enforcement team must continuously monitor all participants to ensure that they FULLY comply with the recommended public health preventive actions against COVID-19 and this guideline AT ALL TIMES;
7. Failure to observe the above-given guidelines would lead to cancellation of an ongoing event, and punitive actions against any church or mosque; involved in the event, in line with the COVID-19 and public health laws of Ondo State.
II. Burial Wake-keep
1. Permission to hold a wake-keep event must be sought in writing, at least one week, from the Special Adviser on Health/Ag. Commissioner for Health and approval obtained before an event is organised;
2. Burial wake keep event can hold on any day, but not between the hours of 10.00 pm and 4.00 am.
3. Not more than 100 people are allowed at an event taking place in the open; For events taking place in a hall or event centre, not more than 50% of the capacity of such hall/event centre should be filled.
4. Every participant must wash his/her hands with soap at the entry point or use hand sanitisers; properly wear a face mask throughout the event and observe social distance (being apart by at least 6 feet or two arm’s length;
5. The event should be limited to a period of two hours only;
6. For entertainments, “take-away” packages should be used instead of open-serving of food and drinks;
7. The event planner and the Church/Mosque conducting the service/programme must put in place an enforcement team that only those who have their face masks properly put on and have washed their hands/use hand sanitisers are allowed into the event. The enforcement team must continuously monitor all participants to ensure that they FULLY comply with the recommended public health preventive actions against COVID-19 and this guideline AT ALL TIMES;
8. Failure to observe the above-given guidelines would lead to cancellation of an ongoing event, and punitive actions against any church or mosque involved in the event, in line with the COVID-19 and public health laws of Ondo State.
E. Political Activities: As part of their interest in ensuring the health and welfare of the citizens, all political parties are strongly enjoined to adhere strictly to these guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and minimise the risk of endangering the health and life during political activities:
1. Sensitise their party members and followers on the danger of COVID-19 and educate them on preventive steps for COVID-19.
2. Campaign venues should not be filled to more than one-third of their capacities and social distancing (minimum of 2 metres or 6 feet) strictly maintained.
3. Avoid the gathering of a large number of people; Where gathering cannot be avoided, social distancing should be strictly adhered to during physical meetings/programmes and such an event must not go beyond two hours.
4. If physical gathering is essential and cannot be avoided, multiple rallies should be conducted with appropriate numbers of people to enable adequate physical distancing in each gathering per time.
5. All participants at a rally or any other political event must properly wear face masks throughout a campaign rally or other political activities.
6. Hand hygiene facilities including soap and water/ hand sanitisers should be made available for people before gaining access to campaign ground or political activity events.
7. Where applicable, virtual campaigns and rallies should be carried out instead of physical gatherings, using virtual platforms and online meetings, televised and radio campaigns, mobile vans and newspapers to reach their goals.
8. COVID-19 protocols/guidelines must always be strictly adhered to during all political activities.
ANNEX: GENERAL COVID-19 PREVENTIVE GUIDELINES IN ONDO STATE
1. Citizens to continue with the proper use of Face Mask – such should cover both the mouth and the nose. Use of face shield does NOT replace the use of face mask: Face shields are really NOT substitutes for face masks;
2. Hand hygiene must be religiously practiced with either washing of hands under running water or use of hand santitiser. Handwashing stations should be positioned at entrances of all markets, shops and public spaces and hand sanitisers strategically placed as necessary to encourage hand hygiene practices;
3. The reopening of Schools is being carefully considered and a definite date will be announced at an appropriate date based on the state of infection, reflections on national and global experiences, and due consultation with the government;
4. Resumption of Civil Servants on GL 1 – 12 is also being carefully considered and the dates will be announced at an appropriate time and after consultation with the government;
5. Curfew is still in place, and in line with Federal Government’s directive, covers the period of 10pm and 4am;
6. Transporters are encouraged to embrace social distancing inside their vehicles/tricycles/motorcycles;
7. Education of the public on COVID-19 to promote appropriate behavioural changes, including the proper use of face masks, hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene (coughing into a folded elbow or disposable tissue that are promptly and properly disposed) and social distancing. Every sector needs to be actively involved in the fight against COVID-19; as such, the Heads of various formal organisations, workers’ unions and units, such as the Banks, National Union of Road Transport Workers’ and market women should be involved.
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