The Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Thursday made an outcry about inadequate bed spaces to accommodate COVID-19 patients in isolation centres.

Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu said Lagos State is the worst-hit by this challenge of inadequate bed spaces although Kano State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are also affected.

He stated this while responding to questions from journalists at the Presidential Task Force briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja. Ihekweazu added that although there are about 3,500-bed spaces available across the country, this is insufficient and it leaves the infectious disease control agency to struggle.

READ ALSO: Lagos State Discharges 12 COVID-19 Patients

“In response to the question about bed spaces. There is no doubt about that, we are struggling in certain places especially in Lagos. To an extent Kano and Abuja too but the biggest challenge right now is in Lagos where bad spaces are really tight.

“Across the country, we have about 3500-bed spaces identified as available for COVID-19 but in Lagos, we are really struggling. So, we are going to keep trying to work with them to make more spaces available and ultimately,” he said.

The NCDC boss added that due to this challenge, there might be a need for a change of strategy and start treating some patients at home.

“We might have to change our strategy a little bit and start considering home care in certain circumstances where the person is able to provide a room where a patient can be managed sufficiently and secondly, we are able to support the care by enabling healthcare workers to come to that.

“We will always be honest with Nigerians, we are struggling at the moment we might have to adapt that strategy because of the reality we have faced over the next few days and weeks,” Ihekweazu said.

Nigeria currently has 1,728 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across 34 states of the country including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Only 307 persons have been discharged while 51 deaths have, so far, been recorded.

The Federal Government has ordered civil servants from grade level 14 and above, to resume their duties effective Monday, May 4. ABN TV Reports.

In a communique on Thursday evening, the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan stressed that the resumption order includes those on essential services across the country.

According to the statement, all those mandated to resume on Monday will be allowed to work three times a week and closing time would be 2 pm.

The Head-Of-Service further directed that those who are resuming must adhere strictly to the observance of social distancing, use of face masks, hand sanitisers, and good general hygiene, adding all Federal Secretariats have been decontaminated and efforts were ongoing to do same in other public offices.

READ ALSO: Scientist Warns Buhari, Governors Over Implications Of Lockdown Ease

Below is the full statement as released from Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan’s office.

OFFICE OF THE HEAD OF CIVIL SERVICE OF THE FEDERATION

30th April, 2020

PRESS RELEASE

PARTIAL RESUMPTION OF OFFICERS ON GRADE LEVEL 14 AND ABOVE INCLUDING THOSE ON ESSENTIAL DUTIES

The Head of Service (HOS) of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi -Esan has directed officers on Grade Level 14 and above including those on essential services to resume work with effect from Monday, 4th May, 2020.

The directive is further to President Muhammadu Buhari’s broadcast on a phased and gradual easing of the lockdown measures occasioned by COVID-19.

The Head of Service in her statement also issued the following directives;

Offices are to open Three (3) times a week, namely Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The closing time shall be 2.00pm on each day.

The concerned officers are to ensure full compliance with the directives and advice on the prevention of the COVID -19 pandemic.

These measures include maintenance of social distancing, regular washing and /or sanitizing of hands and wearing of face masks.

Officers are to limit the number of visitors they receive to the barest minimum. They should also ensure that the visitors comply with safety and health advices/ directives.

Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executive Officers are also advised to ensure that hand washing and sanitation facilities are placed at entrances and strategic points in their MDAs. Infrared thermometers are to be provided at the entrance of the MDAs for compulsory temperature checks while as much as practicable the entrance to the MDAs is limited to only one.

It will be noted that the Federal Secretariat Complexes have been decontaminated while efforts are ongoing to do same in other public offices.

Olawunmi Ogunmosunle
Director, Information

Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi on Thursday donated two motorised modular fumigators to Ondo State government to help Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in the fight against the ravaging Coronavirus in the state.

Presenting the fumigators to the governor at the Government House ground in Akure, the state capital, the spiritual leader of Yoruba worldwide stated that it became imperative for his to assist the government to check the spread of the pandemic because he didn’t want to be king over dead bodies.

He explained that the drone was meant to fumigate areas not accessible to vehicles, noting that the state government would only use the drone for a period before returning it.

Ooni disclosed that all the fumigators were fabricated locally by an Osun State indigene based in Ondo State, Victor Badejo, and all the materials used for the equipment were sourced locally.

According to Ooni of Ife, Nigerians should look at how the citizenry could explore all available resources for the development of the nation after the pandemic is conquered.

Read Also: Governor Obaseki Extends Curfew In Edo By 14 Days

After the demonstration of how the fumigator operates, he revealed that the mixtures used for fumigation were put together by Obafemi Awolowo University’s Prof. Olapeju Esima, a World Health Organization (WHO) consultant.

Confirming that the COVID-19 is real, Ooni appealed to Nigerians to adhere strictly to all the precautionary measures being handed down by the government to prevent the spread of the dreadful virus

Appreciating the monarch for the gesture, Governor Akeredolu described Ooni as a great blessing to the nation.

He expressed interest in acquiring more of the locally mortised modular fumigators from the manufacturer.

Meanwhile, the governor disclosed that he was at Shasha market in Akure North Local Government Area of the state on Thursday, expressing his displeasure about noncompliance with the social distancing order by the market women and men.

He, however, said after sensitising the people about the risk of the spread of the pandemic, the Seriki of the market, therefore, promised to shut down the market, but would henceforth open twice a week to check the spread of the virus.