COVID-19: Not Safe To Open Schools Now, PTF Warns States

The Presidential Taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19, says it is not yet safe to open schools across the country.

Chairman of the Taskforce, Boss Mustapha, stated this on Monday at the ongoing taskforce briefing in Abuja.

Mustapha, who was reacting to reopening of schools by some state governments, said the guidelines of the PTF must be taken fully into consideration before public places could be open.

Furthermore, he called on state governments to ensure strict compliance with the guidelines.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, also disclosed that the recent increase in confirmed cases of the virus in the country, showed that “We are conducting more tests, as we are now in the phase of community transmission.”

Mustapha, who noted that President Muhammadu Buhari devoted 15 paragraphs of his June 12 Democracy Day speech to the pandemic, underscores the danger posed by the virus, adding that everyone must take measures to stop the spread by adhering to the guidelines by the PTF.

He said the lifting of restrictions was not a licence for people to become careless and assume life was back to normal.

Mustapha also called on security agencies to enforce the ban on interstate movements “We also appeal to the security agents to enforce the ban on interstate travel very strictly.”