Second Wave: PTF Threatens To Shut Down Schools If…

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, on Monday, noted that it won’t hesitate to shut down schools across the country if COVID-19 cases increase.

The warning was issued by the PTF National Incident Manager, Mukhtar Muhammed, in a video posted on Twitter by the PTF on Monday.

Muhammed said, “The issue of school reopening is something that the PTF has discussed very extensively. The ministry of education decided to open the schools. Based on our own understanding, it was the states that actually wanted to have the schools reopened.”

“Now, the PTF is watching this very closely, we are monitoring what is going on and if we find out that cases continue to rise in the country and we start to have incidences in schools, certainly, we will have the schools closed.”

“In the first instance, we should have delayed opening of the schools but now that the schools are opened, the PTF will continue to monitor very closely with all the schools to ensure that they institute measures and ensure that people follow as much as possible.”

Recall that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, had earlier stated that travels, reopening of schools, businesses and religious centres contributed to the rise in coronavirus cases in Nigeria during the first wave.

He said, “It is however very instructive to stress that factors that have contributed to rising in numbers from late November 2020 included increased local and international travels, business and religious activities, reopening of schools without strict compliance with COIVID-19 safety measures.”

“The full import of the fore-going is to press further on the need for us all to elevate the level of our vigilance and compliance with the recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions.”