President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the Coronavirus Disease Health Protection 2021, which mandates social distancing and the use of face masks in public among other measures to cub the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
This was disclosed by Boss Mustapha, Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, President Buhari signed the document in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 4 of the Quarantine Act, Cap. Q2 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2010.
Part one of the regulation, which deals with restrictions on gatherings, stipulates that at all gatherings, a physical distance of at least two metres shall be maintained at all times between persons.
“No gathering of more than 50 persons shall hold in an enclosed space, except for religious purposes, in which case the gathering shall not exceed 50 per cent capacity of the space.
“All persons in public gatherings, whether in enclosed or open spaces, shall adhere to the provisions of Part 2 of these Regulations,” the regluation states.
Part two, which deals with operation of public places, states: “No person shall be allowed within the premises of a market, mall, supermarket, shop, restaurants, hotels, event centres, gardens, leisure parks, recreation centres, motor parks, fitness centre or any other similar establishment (hereinafter collectively referred to as ‘establishments’) except:
“a. he is wearing a face covering that covers the nose and mouth;
“b. he washes his hands or cleaned the hands using hand sanitiser approved by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); and
“c. his body temperature has been checked. Any person found to have a body temperature above 38 degrees Celsius shall be denied entry and advised to immediately seek medical attention.”
Part three emphasises on mandatory compliance with treatment protocols and it stipulates that all “health and safety protocols and guidelines are issued by the PTF on Covid-19 on the recommendation of the NCDC and shall be binding on all persons”.
The regulation states that all persons who are confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19 may not refuse isolation and or admission to a designated health establishment for management of the disease.
Article 30 of the regulation states that a person who is confirmed to have contracted the virus may only decline government-regulated treatment if he or she “proves able to make an alternative isolation arrangement that satisfies protocols issued by the NCDC, as certified by a healthcare provider and assessment by a medical professional; such person may use such alternative arrangements, including supervised ‘home-based care”, for self-isolation and adhere strictly to the guidelines until confirmed by the healthcare provider to be no longer at risk of infecting others with the virus”.
The regulation states that a contravention any of its provisions is punishable, on summary conviction, by a fine or a term of six months imprisonment or both in accordance with Section 5 of the Quarantine Act.
It added: “The provisions of these regulations may be varied by Guidelines and Protocols as may be issued, from time to time, by the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 on the recommendation of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.”
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