By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja and  Jude Dangwam, Jos

The Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 yesterday, warned Nigerians against disregarding the guidelines in curbing the spread of the novel Coronavirus, saying citizens should  expect new rise in cases with the  eased restrictions.

The warning by PTF came as the Ondo State Commissioner of Health, Dr Wahab Adegbenro died of comp0lications from the virus.

And in Plateau, 23 Commissioners and all political appointees in the state administration have proceeded on self solation.

Chairman of the Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, gave the warning at the National daily briefing in Abuja.

Mustapha said that while presenting total cases recorded as at July 1st, on Global, African and Nigerian situation, Nigeria’s confirmed cases was 26,484 with 10,152 recoveries and 603 fatalities with 790 cases reported in a single day on Wednesday.

According to him, globally, 10,777,541 cases have been confirmed, 6,006,971 recoveries and 517,800 fatalities.

He noted that 125,039 was reported in the USA on 26th June while Africa has recorded 419,381 confirmed cases, 201,701, recoveries and 10,390 fatalities.

He said with this development, Nigerians must never lower their guard, assuming the battle has been won.

 “What this means is that Nigerians should never mistake the relaxation by government as a signal that the COVID-19 battle had been concluded,” he stated.

He also clarified on the announced limited measures for the education sector, explaining that schools have not been authorised to open but only graduating students.

 “Specifically, we pointed out that it was still not safe to reopen schools. However, in order not to truncate the progression of pupils and students in critical examination classes, the President approved that arrangements be made for them to resume for those who need revision before the commencement of examinations. This aspect has been subjected to several interpretations and misinterpretations.

“For the avoidance of doubts, schools have not resumed. Only critical examination classes will be allowed to resume for those who need revision before examinations. As we have informed you, the Federal Ministry of education will consult further with stakeholders before issuing guidelines that will lead to full resumption. We appeal to Nigerians to continue to show understanding and to ensure that their wards take full advantage of electronic platforms provided for learning.

“In the briefing for Monday, mention was also made about Government offices. Without prejudice to the additional guidelines that will be issued by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, the following generally applicable guidelines are to be observed: As much as practicable, virtual meetings should be encouraged to minimise congregation of officials; and Government offices should restrict visits by those who are not on very essential businesses, to their premises,”he explained.

He said as countries set aside one day in the year as a National Doctors’ Day, the PTF saluted medical workers for the selfless, high risk job they were handling for humanity adding “we remain proud of all of you and we assure you once more of the nation’s support.”

He urged all health workers and authorities of health care facilities to help reduce avoidable fatalities occurring from non-COVID-19 related conditions, by attending to all patients while still observing the COVID-19 protocols.

Mustapha said the PTF condemned reported attack on the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Kogi State by some hoodlums.

“The PTF is particularly distressed and regrets the trauma to which medical workers, patients and others who went on their legitimate businesses were subjected. I wish to assure you that security agencies have been tasked with the responsibility for fishing out the criminal elements behind it and they will be brought to justice. “We thank law abiding Nigerians for reporting the occurrence promptly,” he said.

The PTF chairman added, “we are in the early days of the extension of second phase of eased lockdown and we shall always remind ourselves of the reason for these uncommon times facing humanity. This is the time to comply with the guidelines, it is the time to be vigilant and to take responsibility.

“It is for this reason that I shall repeat my admonition of Monday, June 29th 2020 that “there is presently no known vaccine for the virus and that all over the world non-pharmaceutical measures still remain the most effective fighting opportunity we have for overcoming this pandemic”.

He commended the synergy being built by the Co-Chairmen of the Nigerian Inter Religious Council (NIREC), His Eminence Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, the Sultan of Sokoto/President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and His Eminence Rev. Dr. Samson O. A. Ayokunle, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on the planned fast to be announced by the NIREC, urging all Nigerian to participate in this effort to seek divine intervention.

He assured that the task force shall continue to work with the States and other stakeholders regarding the precision measures to be deployed in the high burden Local Government Areas.

23 Plateau Commissioners, Aides Begin Self-Isolation

No fewer than twenty-three Members of the Plateau State Executive Council and their aides have gone into self isolation following the directives of Governor Simon Lalong to do so as a result of the positive status of Commissioner of Commerce that turned to COVID-19.

Samples of 22 commissioners have since been taken for tested at the NVRI Vom laboratory, meanwhile all political appointees in the state, as well as traditional rulers, local government chairmen, religious leaders amongst others will soon keyed into the self isolation directives.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nimkong Lar Ndam disclosed this in a telephone interview with DAILY ASSET yesterday in Jos the Plateau State capital.

According to Dr. Ndam, “The samples of all other Commissioners have been taken for testing yesterday, even before the test result of the Commissioner for Commence, we have earlier on presented a schedule for all Permanent secretaries, Traditional rulers, Local Government Chairmen and Religious leaders because they are high risk personalities because people have been visiting them.

“At the moment, we are concentrating on the six local government areas that have this high case of the coronavirus with mass testing.

Recalled that Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has directed members of the State Executive Council to undergo test for COVID-19 and thereafter isolate beginning from 1st July, 2020.

The Governor cautioned the public to be guided by unnecessary visits to members of the State Executive Council while they isolate.

DAILY ASSET observed that mass testing exercise was ongoing to at the old Government House Rayfield in Jos to all Government House workers as well as other political appointees yesterday.

 Ondo loses Commissioner of Health to COVID-19

The Ondo State Government has confirmed the death of the Commissioner of Health, Dr Wahab Adegbenro,  who died of COVID- 19 complications.

 Adegbenro died at the state’s COVID-19 treatment Centre, Owo on Thursday.

His death ccame two days after the state Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, said he had tested positive for COVID- 19.

The late Adegbenro hailed from Ilara-Mokin, in Ifedore local government area of the state.