COVID-19: FG extends work-from-home order for workers till June 11

Based on the actions meant to prevent the spread of lethal strains of COVID-19 in the nation, the Federal Government, on Monday, extended its work-from-home order for civil servants on Grade Level 12 and below.

As indicated by the Presidential Steering Committee On COVID-19 housed in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, civil servants will keep on working from home till June 11, 2021, after which the order may be revised.

In the midst of fears about lethal COVID-19 strains in India, South Africa, Turkey and Brazil, the government also reinstated some measures which were set up during the second COVID-19 wave in Nigeria which comprise limited gatherings at worship centres and prohibited night clubs.

The World Health Organisation Regional Virologist, Dr Nicksy Gumede-Moeletsi had stated that B.1.351 variant of COVID-19, first found in South Africa, was spreading in 23 African nations.

As of Sunday, Africa had recorded 4,673,466 cases. South Africa with 1.59 million cases has the highest number of infections in the continent.

Nigeria has thus far recorded 165,419 cases of the virus out of which 2,065 have died while 156,300 have been discharged.

India, whose cases have involved worldwide concern as a result of oxygen shortage and hospital spaces, has recorded 22,991,927 infections.

To avert a related incident in Nigeria, the National Incident Manager, Mukhtar Mohammed at a press conference in Abuja on Monday stated that a national curfew would be initiated from midnight of Monday. He disclosed that the curfew would begin from 12 midnight till 4am every day.

Mohammed added that gatherings for worship or marriage ceremony should not be more than 50 per cent capacity.

For civil servants, he stated, “All Government staff on GL. 12 and below are to continue to stay at home until 11th June, 2021;

“Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executives to be held accountable for enforcing NPI rules in their domains with frequent spot checks; and

“Ensure that all NPIs are observed. Mandatory and proper use of face masks in all government premises.”

For non-government staffs, he said, “Encourage virtual meetings by offices. Avoid large meetings, decongest offices and ensure they are well-ventilated;

“Encourage staff to work from home where possible;

“Mobile courts to enforce on-the-spot fines and close premises that repeatedly violate rules;

“Mandatory use of face masks and other NPIs. No face mask, no entry;

“Personalised services to ensure face masks are worn when selling goods or providing services and ensure provision of sanitizers and appropriate PPEs to all workers; and

“Encourage the use of approved Ag-Rapid Diagnostic Tests as recommended in the guidance for the use of approved COVID-19 AG-RDTS in Nigeria (on NCDC website).”

Mohammed declared that security officials had been charged with the duty to enforce all the non-pharmaceutical measures set up by the authority.