COVID-19 Third Wave: FCT, Lagos, Kano, Rivers, Oyo, Two Others Placed On Red Alert

The Federal Government has placed six states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on red alert amid fear of COVID-19 third wave and the confirmation of the Delta variant in the country.

Naija News reports that this was made known in a statement signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation/Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, on Saturday.

The statement was titled, ‘COVID-19 third wave: PSC puts six states and FCT on red alert, recommends preventive measures for safe Eid celebration.’

The other states put on red alert include Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, Kaduna, Kano, and Plateau.

According to the statement, Mustapha warned that other states of the federation must increase their level of preparedness and continue to enforce all protocols to guard against the spread of the coronavirus.

While warning Nigerians to take caution during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration on Tuesday and Wednesday, the SGF said the government would sustain the current restrictive measures against travellers from countries including India, Brazil, Turkey and South Africa.

“Following the confirmation of the Delta variant of COVID-19 and the rising number of infections and hospitalisations in the country, the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC) has put six states and the Federal Capital Territory on red alert as part of the preventive measures against a third wave of the pandemic. The states are Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau, and the FCT,” the statement read.

“The PSC, however, warns that all states of the federation should heighten their state of preparedness and continue to enforce all protocols put in place, given the renowned greater ease of spread of the Delta variant. These steps are critical as we begin to see worrisome early signs of increasing cases in Nigeria.

“The PSC shall continue to minimise the risk of importation of variants of concern into the country by strengthening surveillance at all Points of Entry, enforcing extant quarantine protocols and sustaining the current restrictive measures against travellers arriving from India, Brazil, Turkey and South Africa.

“The PSC felicitates with the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration. It, however, urges all state governments and religious leaders to be mindful of the potential for wider spread of the virus during large gatherings.”