COVID-19: PTF Identifies 22 LGAs With ‘High-Burden’ In Nigeria

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) for COVID-19 has identified 22 high-burden Local Government Areas (LGAs), contributing 95 per cent of the new cases of the virus.

PTF National Incident Manager, Dr Mukhtar Muhammad, said this during the COVID-19 briefing on Monday.

He noted that these 22 council areas are in 13 states and has highly contributed to the rise in COVID-19 in the last six weeks.

“The PTF has analysed the epidemic in the country and we have identified 22 high-burden local government areas located within 13 states.

“These local government areas, which are mostly in the cities or in the state capitals, contribute over 95 per cent of the epidemic, particularly new cases in the country.

“The states and local governments are Nkanu West (Enugu); Abuja Municipal (FCT), Gwagwalada FCT, Gombe (Gombe); Chikun (Kaduna), Kaduna North, Kaduna South;

“Nassarawa (Kano), Katsina (Katsina), Ilorin South (Kwara), Ilorin West (Kwara), Eti-Osa (Lagos), Ikeja (Lagos), Kosofe (Lagos), Lagos Mainland (Lagos), Keffi (Nasarawa),

“(Lafia), Nasarawa, Ibadan North (Oyo), Jos North (Plateau), Jos South (Plateau), Port-Harcourt, (Rivers) and Wamako (Sokoto),” he said.

Reiterating the need to adhere to the Executive Order by President Muhammadu Buhari, the PTF said pertinent strategies should be adopted by owners of public places to help individuals recall the need to wear face masks among other measures.

“For example, putting a notice of no mask no entry or no mask no service, to enlighten the users of your services.

“Pertinent strategies will be adopted and they will include mobile court on strategic locations such as markers, motor parks and it is expected that every law enforcement agencies will monitor complaints or their staff within which they supervise.

“We are providing advisory to the states to develop community engagement strategy and risk communication strategies to sensitize the public on compliance with these regulations and to promote behavioural changes.”

Recall that THE WHISTLER had reported the arrest of over 100 persons on Monday by COVID-19 Taskforce officials for violating the Executive Order mandating the use of face mask in public places.