By Williams Anuku, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration has issued fresh Covid-19 guidelines regulating religious gatherings, workplace and markets.
In the new guidelines, enforcement teams would be out on the streets of the territory to ensure compliance, all these were necessitated by the second wave of the virus, which has already spiked in the last few weeks.
Announcing the directive, FCT Minister, Bello Musa said the administration would be liaising very closely with the Judiciary through the Mobile Courts System under existing approved laws to bring the violators to book and serve as a deterrent to others.
He hinted that recorded figures over the last three weeks in FCT have been unacceptably high and there was an urgent need to contain it as much and as fast as possible.
He, however, noted that mandatory temperature checks must be carried out on all employees and customers entering office and business premises in the FCT.
His words; “All staff members, visitors and customers entering workplaces, shops or business premises must wear a face mask that should cover the mouth and nose.
” No mask, no entry, no service. All office and business premises must have a handwashing station with running water and soap or hand sanitizer.
” Employees who are feeling unwell or have Covid-19 symptoms, should notify their supervisor immediately, or stay at home and seek medical attention to confirm the diagnosis by doing a Covid-19 test.
” While the above guidelines regulate formal workplace and business environment, the holiday season demands that we also place special emphasis on market places, places of worship and entertainment as well as recreational centres which traditionally attract large gatherings during this period”, he stressed.
He, therefore, directed the Abuja Market Management ltd and the various market associations to work together to carry out sensitisation activities and ensure compliance of all extant health protocols.
He further stated that all extant regulations issued as conditions for reopening of places of worship on June 4, 2020, still subsists, urging heads of various congregations to ensure compliance.
Similarly, the Minister said that all extant regulations guiding the operations of entertainment and recreational centres still subsists and operators and enjoined to ensure strict compliance.
“Public transportation facilities such as buses taxis and tricycles must also obey all already established protocols.
“The FCT administration is determined to curb the spread of Covid-19 and will therefore ensure rigorous enforcement.
“COVID-19 real and has not in any way lost its potency and capacity to make you very sick. As we celebrate, therefore, please let us do so in safety and good health,” Bello said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman FCT Ministerial Task Team on Enforcement of Covid-19 Protocols, Ikharo Attah, said that team would go round to offices premises, business environment to ensure compliance.
While adding that, the team would start with intensive advocacy talking to people over and over ” but if they refuse to adhere to COVID-19 protocols we will enforce compliance.”