The federal government is contemplating the compulsory use of face masks for everyone to curb the spread of the coronavirus as the number of confirmed cases has risen to 139.
Protocols for reviewing the 14-day lockdown on Lagos, Ogun states and the FCT Abuja are also being reviewed.
To bolster efforts in fighting the pandemic, the government has recalled retied health workers who are now being trained to support the overall preparedness and treatment regime.
Other measures include more testing centers as Nigeria aims to be able to test 1,500 persons daily in its bid to fast-track the detection rate.
According to data from the Nigeria Centre of Disease Control (NCDC), the country has tested over 2,000 people since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the region on February 27,2020.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday in Abuja, NCDC Director-General Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu said the agency was considering the use of face masks to stem the spread of the pandemic.
He stated that even though the World Health Organization (WHO) had recommended the use of face masks for only health workers, NCDC might use a national strategy for the public to prefect themselves from the virus.
“This is a strategy we need to think about before we implement it. Before we implement a national strategy around mask wearing, we have to be sure we can provide it or at least enable access to it.
We will allow for the risk assessment and and as the evidence comes together, we will make a decision based on the evidence and ability to provide every Nigerian with access to mask.”
