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Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has stated that wearing of face masks would be made compulsory for residents in the state from next week, saying this would help to curb the spread of coronavirus in the state.
Sanwo-Olu, announced this measure on Monday while briefing newsmen on the fight against the coronavirus pandemic at the State House, Marina.
According to the governor, over one million locally-made face mask have been contracted out to tailors locally and will be distributed during the week.
He said: “From next week, we are going to be making face masks compulsory in Lagos state. We have commissioned more than one million face masks to be distributed in the state.”
The governor, who disclosed that the state had recorded 14 deaths, however, urged the citizens not to panic, adding: “It’s important we do not panic, this pandemic will be over and sizeable number of our people will get well.”
He also warned against discriminating against those who had been treated and discharged, saying they were free to relate with their families and community.
“The society should desist from stigmatisation. Once certified negative, they are free to join their families and society. We are hoping to open two isolation centres at Landmark Centre and Gbagada.
The governor urged those feeling symptoms of COVID-19 to present themselves for test, disclosing that two more isolation centres at Landmark Centre and Gbagada would be opened on Tuesday.
“We have seen increase in the number of infected people from our neighbouring countries. We have a responsibility to take care of them and they are in our isolation centre. The increase in numbers is evidence of our strategy to rip off the virus.
“We have seen that people that are suspected to have the virus have declined to present themselves or going to private hospitals. The isolation centres are not death centres,” he said.
On security, the governor said the government would continue with “show of force day and night,” adding: “Our people should be able to go to bed with their two eyes closed.”
He also warned against spreading fake news, urging the media to verify information before sharing them.