Following the pronouncements of the federal government on the resumptions of schools across the federation on the 18th of January, it has come to the knowledge of the Federal Taskforce on Covid-19 that certain schools are not complying with the laid down protocols, and this has led to the pronouncement by the National Impact Manager of the taskforce to state categorically while on Radio Nigeria’s weekly program “Have Your Say”, That any school found culpable would be Shut down.

Dr. Mukhtar Mohammed stated that “School children are the most vulnerable to the disease as they cannot make decisions for themselves, hence, the parents, teachers, school owners, and proprietors must be as much accountable for their safety as well as those of the children in their care. The protocols have been laid down by the ministry of education and the school owners indicated interest and capability to adhere to them.”

When asked about the difference of opinion as relates to the opening of the Unity Schools which are a group of public schools run by the federal government, Dr. Muhammed initially said that the best people to respond would be the Ministry of Education but that what he was aware of was that; initially, there was a line of thought to postpone the resumption, but after consultations with various commissioners of education, resumption would go on as planned.

He enjoined schools to ensure that adequate and frequent training is given to their staff as well as children that are old enough to understand. “80% of victims are asymptomatic but they are still carriers and spreaders of covid-19 as such everyone needs to take responsibility in order to protect the vulnerable members of the society, community, and family.

In conclusion, the incidence manager stated that even though the case fatality ratios have remained low, the figures have ballooned. “We had figures in the hundreds that necessitated the first phase of the lockdown almost a year ago, and now we have daily figures numbering in the thousands. While the economic impact of a lockdown does not justify its repeat, drastic measures might be required if the situation persists or worsens.”

Better to avoid the widespread of coronavirus

All schools must obey Covid19 guidelines to curb the spread of the disease.

There are various strains of Covid, the initial one the world experienced in the first wave was a mere simple case scenario and this second wave is serious and dangerous to the extent that it manifest rapidly and kill faster; a case study of foreign countries like UK, USA, and France. I hate to say it, this is not the best time to reopen the schools; it is better to preserve lives of the Nigerians than to safe the economy but it is what it, government didn't do enough to ensure there is full and strict compliance in the school regarding adhering to covid protocols in the Nigeria schools as there are many public and some private schools are yet to adhere to the laid down guild line, there is need to critically look into this to avoid further spread of the virus