₦airaland Forum

Lagos State Government has adopted a number of biosecurity measures at every facility within the Oko-Oba abattoir and lairage complex as well as other slaughterhouses in the State to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 and other infectious diseases through these facilities.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Prince Gbolahan Lawal explained that the Government has stopped all non-essential activities of food vendors and other non-related abattoir practices.

Lawal added that the ban on all religious gatherings or other activities that involve more than 50 people would be strictly enforced at the abattoir and slaughterhouses in Lagos, adding that operators are also expected to provide hand sanitizer and a distance thermometer at the entrance of these facilities.

The Commissioner emphasised that it is essential for all unit heads to sensitise butchers in their respective abattoirs on the dangers and preventive measures of COVID-19, asserting that the stakeholders must also tell their sick members to stay away from the abattoir and seek medical assistance.

“Posters and handbills on COVID-19 shall be made available at all our abattoirs and meat markets stating the symptoms of the disease, the preventive measures to be taken and the phone numbers to contact in cases of a suspected outbreak. It is also important that we increase the level of sanitation of the entire environment at our abattoir and slaughterhouses in the State”, he averred.

He informed that all butchers and food vendors should be fully kitted and maintain a high level of personal hygiene by regular washing of hands and tools, stating that a member of the management of each concessionaire should insist on the use of a handheld thermometer on individuals coming into the abattoir in addition to the provision of hand sanitisers for mandatory use by everyone at the abattoir.

While stressing the need for crowd control to a maximum of four persons per cow during the slaughtering process at the slab, the Commissioner reiterated that the State Government would not condone any illegal conveyance of meat products from abattoir and slaughterhouses to the markets, except with the use of Eko refrigerated meat vans.

He directed that butchers should discourage their customers from touching meat or meat products but rather allow customers to make their choices while butchers handle the meat wearing gloves.

“The era of several customers touching meat or meat products on display is over, as the Lagos meat reforms will ensure that only wholesome meat is sold to the populace while promoting food safety”, the Commissioner said.

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The Federal Government has issued a travel ban on 13 countries over the spread of the Coronavirus.

The Government of Nigeria is restricting entry into the country for travelers from China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, the United States of America, Norway, the United Kingdom, Netherlands & Switzerland.

These are all countries with over 1,000 cases domestically.

The Federal Government is temporarily suspending all visas issued to nationals from these countries. Nigerians arriving from these countries will be subjected to supervised isolation for 14 days.

The Government is also advising all Nigerians to avoid travel to these countries. These restrictions will come into effect from Friday 20 March 2020, for 4 weeks, subject to review.

…As Three Suspects Test Negative

A family of four children and their teacher, who recently returned from the United States of America and suspected for COVID-19 have been isolated at the Biosecurity Facility of the Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, the Lagos State Government has said.

Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi who disclosed this on Wednesday at a news conference to give updates on COVID19 in Lagos, stated that the four children and their teacher were in close proximity to someone who had coronavirus infection.

He explained further that the first test carried out on them was negative, adding that confirmation tests will still be repeated to determine the next point of action.

Abayomi also announced that a man who recently returned from the UK and suspected for COVID19 is in Isolation at the Mainland Hospital, noting that his samples have been collected and test being conducted to determine his status.

The Commissioner revealed that the three suspected persons from France, England, and China who had earlier been in isolation at the Mainland Hospital tested negative and have been discharged.

He explained that the index case is responding well to treatment, adding that his viral load is going down significantly with no symptoms exhibited. He, however, stated that he cannot be released into the community now until the virus is undetectable and cannot infect others.

“The index case is gradually recovering but we need to carry out more tests on him just to be sure of his status and if the virus is undetectable, we will repeat the test a few more times and discharge him afterward”, he said.

In the second confirmed case, Abayomi noted that he is doing well with no major symptoms but only exhibits minor aches and pains noting that more tests will be conducted on him based on the prevailing circumstances.

“We have given him drugs to slow down the virus and we hope his immune system will resist the virus and we will continue to keep him until he is no longer contagious”, he said.

Answering the question on the people that earlier left Lagos for other States in the country, the Commissioner stated that the information has been passed on to the National Center for Diseases Control (NCDC) so that they will be tracked in the States they have gone to with the assistance of the Epidemiologists from the states.

Abayomi revealed that the two passengers on the Turkish Airline who could not be traced because of wrong information have been found within 24 hours when their names were published by the media, adding that the State has already gotten in touch with them.

He advised the members of the public to continue observing both environmental and personal hygiene by washing their hands regularly with soap and clean running water as well as keeping their environment very clean.