Lagos State Government announced on Wednesday,new measures to prevent the spread of new variants of COVID-19 by placing 14 countries that are currently experiencing active community transmission of the new COVID-19 variants which originated from the Red countries on watch list.
This measure was announced by the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, while speaking at a press briefing organised by the Ministry of Health to highlight the State Government’s COVID-19 third wave prevention strategy.
Professor Abayomi stated that Lagos State Government is proactively setting parameters that will guide the management of Inbound Passengers of Interests (POIs) from other countries, especially countries with rapidly spreading new strains of the COVID-19 virus.
He said that inbound international travellers and POIs coming from other countries into Lagos are being classified on the basis of their originating countries into three: the Red countries, the Amber countries and the Green countries.
The Health Commissioner noted that India, Brazil and Turkey as Red countries, where new variants of COVID originated from.This countries are experiencing rapid increase spread of new variants especially in the past seven days.
He disclosed that Amber countries consists of 14 nations that are currently experiencing active community transmission of the new variants which originated from the Red countries.
The Commissioner added that the Green Countries are countries with no known variants of COVID or records of variants from Red Countries and no clear increase in the number of daily confirmed cases.
He listed the fourteen countries that form the Amber countries to include; Canada, U.S.A, France, Germany, Netherlands, Togo, Ghana, Cameroun, Angola, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.
Abayomi stated that the State Government would closely monitor inbound flights from the Red and Amber Countries and set parameters for management of POIs from the countries.
His words; “Our protocol for management of inbound passengers from the Red Countries will include; a mandatory PCR test 72 hours before departure, PCR test post arrival and a 14 day isolation in a government approved facility paid for by the passenger.
“Passengers of interests from the Amber Countries are also required to do PCR test 72 hours before departure, PCR test post arrival and a mandatory seven days isolation at home which will be monitored by our logistics, surveillance and EkoTELEMED teams,” he added.
Prof Abayomi explained the framework for isolation of Passengers of interests from Red listed countries of India, Turkey and Brazil, stating that POIs from these countries are required to pre-register and fill a travel registration form on the Federal Government’s COVID travel portal and pre-book for a PCR test and Isolation accommodation.
He said Port Health officials will verify details of POIs from the Red countries on arrival and ensure their transportation from the airport to isolation centres where a PCR test would be conducted to determine their COVID status.
The Health Commissioner further disclosed that POIs who tested positive for COVID would be moved to government isolation centres, while those who tested negative after a repeat test would be discharged after seven days isolation.
In his words; “The Federal Government has put very strict guidelines in place for people coming from India, Brazil and Turkey. These passengers coming in are to be mandatorily isolated at any of the accredited State isolation facilities at their own expense.
“They are to perform a COVID PCR test within 24 hours and continue isolation for seven days after which a second PCR test will be performed. If you are negative on that seventh day then you will be permitted to leave the State accredited isolation facility.
“For passengers returning from other counties, we are more relaxed however, there are still restrictions, all of them still have to comply with the seven day isolation but they can isolate at home where we will be monitoring them and ensure that they observe the mandatory seven day isolation before they leave their home environment.”
The Commissioner revealed that the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu, has recently passed into law the Lagos State Coronavirus Pandemic law, 2021 which gives him the right to order a quarantine and allow for sanction for anyone who flouts the law.
Abayomi warned that there will be severe sanctions for inbound travellers and POIs who flout the protocol or the State COVID pandemic law stressing that providing false or deliberately misleading information when filling out the online form is an offence punishable by imprisonment or heavy fines or both.
He said; “According to section 11 of the new gazette of the Lagos State Coronavirus Pandemic law, 2021, the Governor has the right to order for a quarantine of a person or group of persons to be quarantined until it is safe for such quarantine order to be lifted in Lagos State.
“According to section 17 of same law, if passengers break the quarantine rules, they may face a penalty of up to 300,000 naira and/or one year imprisonment”.
While noting that general laxity, false sense of security and non-adherence to COVID guidelines, COVID fatigue and entry of mutations and guidelines are the possible triggers of the third wave infection, Abayomi averred that enforcement of non-pharmaceutical interventions of facemask use, social distancing, hand hygiene, avoiding mass gatherings, PCR testing and isolation if positive, is key to mitigating COVID third wave.
He assured Lagosians; “We will deploy effective messaging and education via our various platforms, while we enforce all guidelines through the respective state agencies”.
