Year-end services: FG restricts religious gatherings to 50% capacity over Covid-19

As Nigerians prepare for Christmas and New Year celebrations, the Federal Government, yesterday, restricted religious gathering indoors to 50 per cent capacity in full compliance with public health measures, even as it threatened to introduce more restrictions should there be an increase in COVID-19 cases virus in the country.

Meanwhile, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib has disclosed that Nigeria currently has over 20 million doses of vaccines available.

Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, PSC, Boss Mustapha, in a statement, yesterday, noted that the decision became necessary following the recent rise in number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

The government which appreciated that this period of the year is important to religious organisations as they hold crossover services every year to usher in the New Year, added that there has been reduced compliance with public health social measures which has led to increased COVID-19 cases in the country.

He said: “The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 recognises the importance of the Christmas and New Year celebrations for most Nigerians. As we prepare to celebrate with our families and loved ones, it is important that we do so safely by taking the necessary precautionary measures to stop the further spread of COVID-19 in our country.

“The PSC wishes to remind Nigerians that we are now experiencing the 4th wave of COVID-19 as new cases have continued to rise in the country. This is the result of a mix of very low vaccination coverage, increased travels and movements, reduced compliance with public health social measures and highly transmissible Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant now circulating in the country.

“Indoor religious congregations should be limited to 50 per cent capacity in full compliance with public health social measures; face masks and hand sanitisers should be used at all times regardless of vaccination status while in public spaces.

“Families are advised to limit the number of visitors to their homes and put in place precautionary safety measures. Any gathering in the excess of 50 people should be done in open spaces with physical distancing.

“Avoid non-essential inter-state travel at this period as this increases the risk of spreading infection from one place to another. People who intend to travel are encouraged to take a rapid COVID-19 test to confirm status as many infected persons are asymptomatic.

“Ensure that you have taken the full dose of COVID-19 vaccination including the booster dose to reduce your risk of severe infection and death in case of exposure to COVID-19.”